Pope Leo XIV on Saturday received a second group of Nigerian Catholic bishops at the Vatican as part of their traditional Ad Limina Apostolorum visit to Rome.

The visit is a long-standing pilgrimage during which Catholic bishops travel to the Vatican to meet the Pope and present reports on the pastoral life, challenges, and developments within their dioceses.

The Nigerian bishops’ meeting with the pontiff followed the conclusion of their conference where they deliberated on key issues affecting the Catholic Church in Nigeria and the welfare of the faithful across the country.

During the meeting, the bishops presented gifts to the Pope in a symbolic gesture of communion with the Holy See. A video released by the Vatican and circulated on social media showed the exchange between the bishops and the pontiff.

The delegation that met the Pope on Saturday comprised 35 bishops, representing dioceses across Nigeria.

Their audience came days after an earlier group of 37 Nigerian bishops held a similar meeting with the Pope on March 6 as part of the same pilgrimage exercise.

The Ad Limina Apostolorum visit, which translates to “to the thresholds of the Apostles,” traditionally includes prayer at the tombs of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, alongside official meetings with the Pope and Vatican officials.

It also provides an opportunity for bishops to discuss the spiritual, administrative, and social realities facing the Church in their respective dioceses.

Pope Leo XIV was elected as the head of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, and formally inaugurated on May 18, 2025.

Since his election, the pontiff has continued to receive bishops from different parts of the world as part of the Church’s long-standing tradition of maintaining direct contact with local diocesan leaders.

Meanwhile, the Pope is expected to undertake his first apostolic journey to Africa in April.

The trip will include visits to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

The planned tour is expected to strengthen ties between the Vatican and the rapidly growing Catholic communities across the African continent.