Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Vatican officials block Seyi Tinubu from greeting Pope Leo XIV in Rome

Since his father assumed office, the younger Mr Tinubu has been accused of loafing.

• May 19, 2025
Seyi Tinubu blocked from greeting pope
Seyi Tinubu blocked from greeting pope[Credit: X.com]

Tagging along with his father, President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s first son Seyi, was blocked from shaking hands with the newly elected Roman Catholic Church Pope Leo XIV inside the Vatican.

The younger Mr Tinubu could only watch as his father was accorded the courtesy.

While two senior clerics led the Nigerian president to greet the new pontiff, a protocol official ensured the younger Mr Tinubu did not get close enough to have a papal handshake.

The Nigerian president was invited with other world leaders to attend the “solemn mass marking the beginning of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Bishop of Rome and the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church”.

An X user, @Vonapochi, said,  “Seyi Tinubu has done it again, another national embarrassment on the world stage.

“At the Pope’s inauguration, while bishops and ministers followed protocol, Seyi forced his way to the front like an entitled child. He wasn’t on the official list, yet tried to shake the Pope’s hand and was blocked by security.”

Since his father assumed office, the younger Mr Tinubu has been accused of loafing.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

President Bola Tinubu was welcomed by Peter Mbah, the Governor of Enugu State, during his visit

Politics

Tinubu loves Igbos, developing South-East region with SEDC: Governor Mbah

“Tinubu loves the Igbo people. The SEDC is a commission whose time has come. It was an idea conceived many decades ago, but it took President Tinubu to establish,” Mr Mbah said.

Governor Alex Otti

States

Gov Otti pledges equal support for federal, state agencies in Abia

Governor Alex Otti has pledged equal support for federal and state agencies operating in the state, irrespective of their affiliations.

Armed Cops

States

Police apprehend two for inciting communal violence

The police command in Anambra says it has arrested two suspects over the alleged circulation of misleading video content capable of escalating communal tensions.

Doctors wearing hazmat

Health

Ebola: 10,000 confirmed cases demand rapid scale-up, says Norwegian Refugee Council

Nearly 50 per cent of the 10,000 infected people died from the virus, the Norwegian Refugee Council said while announcing the latest figures.

Alexander brothers

Anti-Corruption

American real estate Alexander brothers jailed 30 years each for rape, sex trafficking

Real estate moguls and twin brothers Tal and Oren Alexander, alongside their brother Alon, have each been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sex trafficking and rape allegations.

Heading 1

INEC under scrutiny over alleged AI-generated voter photos, promises review

INEC’s spokesman admitted the photographs appeared in a preliminary register but said it was not the final certified version.