President Julius Maada Bio and Eminence Cardinal Arrigo Miglio
President Julius Maada Bio welcomed His Eminence Cardinal Arrigo Miglio of the Holy Roman Church on February 10, 2026, during a pastoral visit to Sierra Leone. Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown described Cardinal Miglio as a highly respected figure in the Church, adding that the visit will include an inspection of the Love Bridge Project in Lokomasama Chiefdom, Port Loko District.
Archbishop Charles stated that the Love Bridge facility, which was established more than 15 years ago, continues to provide essential health services, with a special emphasis on assisting the poor. He framed the project as a tangible expression of the Church’s commitment to living the Gospel through practical service and compassionate care.
Hon. Dr Alpha Kanu, Presidential Spokesman, emphasised ongoing collaboration with Hon. Ishmael Sankoh Yillah, whose constituency includes the hospital. Dr Kanu stated that medical teams from Italy conduct annual surgical missions at the facility, reinforcing international partnerships that improve local healthcare delivery.
Cardinal Miglio expressed his personal condolences to President Bio on the recent death of his sister, Mrs Alice Josephine Tucker (née Bio), and described his time in Sierra Leone as extremely rewarding. He praised the Love Bridge Hospital for its compassionate approach to healthcare and conveyed His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s blessings to the president. Before leaving, the Cardinal stated that he would brief the Pope on his observations and experiences during the visit when he returned to Italy.
President Bio greeted the Cardinal warmly and reaffirmed his close relationship with the Catholic community, praising the Church’s contributions to spiritual life as well as the provision of healthcare services throughout the country. He paid tribute to his late sister, recalling her lifelong career as a Catholic schoolteacher dedicated to human capital development. The President also emphasised the importance of spiritual reflection in public leadership, revealing that he holds weekly prayers with Catholic priests at his office as a personal practice.
