The long thread that connects the history of Benin and the Papacy seems to be reconnecting when Abuja Archdiocese of the Catholic church, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, in company of other Nigerian Priests, presented the highly coveted Queen Idia Mask to the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican City in Rome, on 14th March 2026.
Queen Idia, was renowned Benin Queen mother of Oba Esigie who reigned in Benin before joining her Royal ancestors Kingdom Centuries ago.
While on a visit to the ‘Ad Limina Apostolorum’ visit to the Vatican, Cardinal Onaiyekan, took along a Queen Idia mask, a very curious tag along for a visit, considering that it is neither a religious object amongst the Benin people nor Catholics.
But what is significant is that it highlights the item as a cultural symbol also appreciated by non Benins, Onaiyekan being from Kogi State originally.
The historic trip to the Vatican is not the only thread that connects the Benins with the ancient kingdom of Benin, with filial reverence globally.
Oral tradition has it that an erstwhile King of the great Benins was Baptized in Portugal and helped to bring the Catholic church into Benin on a street called Akpakpava street, a corruption of the Latin, Papa Via, (the Papal Road). And that’s not all that the historical ties left as symbols.
The Benin Chiefs vare dresses alike in the famous frock of Catholic Priests. And so the ties go deeper and longer, just as footages of the visit, garnered veral engagements, including comments by netizens on social media space.
Wow