President Dr Julius Maada Bio on Tuesday received His Eminence Cardinal Arrigo Miglio of the Holy Roman Church at State House in Freetown, as part of the Cardinal’s pastoral visit to Sierra Leone.
Welcoming the delegation, President Bio reaffirmed his longstanding relationship with the Catholic Church and commended its continued contributions to spiritual guidance, education, and healthcare delivery across the country.
Introducing the Cardinal, Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown described Cardinal Miglio as a senior and highly respected leader within the Catholic Church. He disclosed that the Cardinal’s visit includes an inspection of the Love Bridge Project in Lokomasama Chiefdom, Port Loko District, where a hospital established over 15 years ago continues to provide essential healthcare services, particularly to underserved communities.
Archbishop Charles said the Love Bridge Project exemplifies the Church’s commitment to living the Gospel through service, adding that the facility has become a lifeline for many vulnerable people in the district.
Presidential Spokesman Dr Alpha Kanu highlighted ongoing collaboration between the government and Hon. Ishmael Sankoh Yillah, the Member of Parliament for the constituency where the hospital is located. He noted that medical teams from Italy conduct annual surgical missions at the Love Bridge Hospital, strengthening local healthcare delivery.
Speaking during the courtesy call, Cardinal Miglio expressed condolences to President Bio on the death of his sister, Mrs Alice Josephine Tucker (née Bio). He described his visit to Sierra Leone as deeply fulfilling and praised the Love Bridge Hospital for its compassion-driven approach to healthcare. The Cardinal also conveyed the blessings of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to the President, stating that he would brief the Pope on his visit upon his return to Italy.
President Bio expressed appreciation for the Cardinal’s visit and paid tribute to his late sister, recalling her lifelong service as a Catholic school teacher committed to human capital development. He underscored the importance of spiritual reflection in leadership and revealed that he observes weekly prayers with Catholic priests at his office.
The meeting concluded with mutual expressions of goodwill and a renewed commitment to strengthening collaboration between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Catholic Church.
