NIGERIAN BISHOPS BEGINS AD LIMINA VISIT WITH MASS AT THE BASILICA OF ST. JOHN LATERAN Rome, Italy — March 9, 2026
3/10/2026
The second group of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria have formally begun their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit to Rome with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral church of the Pope as Bishop of Rome.
The Mass, celebrated on Monday morning, was presided over by Joseph Ekuwem, Metropolitan Archbishop of Calabar. The solemn liturgy marked the official opening of the Nigerian bishops’ pilgrimage to the See of Peter, a sacred tradition that expresses the unity of local Churches with the universal Church.
THE CATHEDRAL OF THE POPE
Although many people associate the Pope primarily with St. Peter's Basilica, the Basilica of St. John Lateran holds a unique status in the Catholic Church. It is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and therefore the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope as Bishop of Rome. For this reason, it bears the ancient title “Omnium Urbis et Orbis Ecclesiarum Mater et Caput”—Mother and Head of all the Churches of the City and of the World.
Celebrating the Eucharist in this historic basilica underscores the bishops’ communion with the Church of Rome and their pastoral union with the successor of St. Peter.
A GESTURE OF COMMUNION WITH THE SEE OF PETER
At the conclusion of the Mass, the Nigerian bishops gathered around the Cathedra, the symbolic seat of the Bishop of Rome located in the apse of the basilica. This moment served as a powerful sign of ecclesial unity.
The gesture expressed the bishops’ communion with Pope Leo and their fidelity to the Holy See, reaffirming the bond that links the Church in Nigeria with the universal Catholic Church.
MEANING OF THE AD LIMINA VISIT
The Ad Limina Apostolorum visit—literally meaning “to the thresholds of the Apostles”—is a long-standing tradition in the Catholic Church. At regular intervals, diocesan bishops from around the world travel to Rome to:
- Pray at the tombs of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul
- Report on the pastoral life of their dioceses
- Strengthen communion with the Pope and the Roman Curia
- Reflect on the mission of the Church in their local contexts
These visits provide an important opportunity for bishops to share the realities, challenges, and hopes of the Church in their countries.
MEETINGS WITH VATICAN DICASTERIES
During their stay in Rome, the Nigerian bishops will hold meetings with several dicasteries and ecclesial institutions of the Holy See. These conversations will address matters relating to evangelization, pastoral care, priestly formation, Catholic education, social outreach, and the mission of the Church in contemporary society.
The bishops will also make prayerful visits to Rome’s major basilicas and other sacred sites, moments that traditionally form part of the spiritual pilgrimage associated with the Ad Limina.
AUDIENCE WITH THE HOLY FATHER
The visit will culminate in a personal audience with the Holy Father. Such encounters offer bishops the opportunity to present the pastoral realities of their dioceses directly to the Pope, receive guidance, and deepen the bonds of communion between their local Churches and the universal Church.
For the Church in Nigeria—one of the most vibrant and rapidly growing Catholic communities in the world—this pilgrimage represents both a moment of spiritual renewal and a reaffirmation of unity with the See of Peter.
Through prayer, dialogue, and reflection during the Ad Limina visit, the bishops seek renewed strength for their pastoral mission as shepherds serving the People of God in Nigeria.
