With this moving gesture of respect, the new Nigerian ambassador to the Holy See, Paul Oga Adikwu, presented his diplomatic credentials to Pope Francis.
His family also joined him for the visit.
The ambassador gave the Pope a set of chalices as a gift.
'Thank you very much, that's very kind of you, thank you very much'.
In return Pope Francis gave him copies of the significant texts of his pontificate.
'I shall pass it down to my people back in Nigeria'.
He also commented on the power of family to support the new ambassador, and gave them a blessing.
'The strength of the family, to lead the ambassador's work forward'.
Nearly half of Nigeria's 200 million inhabitants are Christian, yet violence by Islamist extremists has killed over 100 Christians since the beginning of the year. Aid to the Church in Need reports that anti-Christian violence continues to be on the rise throughout the country.
JM
