World mourns Pope Francis
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has urged the Church in Ghana to pray and prepare their hearts for the election of Pope Francis’ successor, following the demise of the head of the Catholic Church yesterday.
Pope Francis, 88, died peacefully in the Lord in the early hours of yesterday, just a day after delivering his traditional Easter Sunday message from the balcony of the St Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis served the Catholic Church with profound humility, unwavering faith, and a tireless commitment to the poor, to peace, and to the care of the environment, our common home.
Catholic Bishops’ message
A statement signed and issued by the President of the GCBC, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, to announce the passing of the Pontiff, said, “with deep sorrow and yet with great faith in the victory of Christ over death, I write to inform you of the passing into eternal life of His Holiness, Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff and Servant of the Servants of God.
The statement asked for prayers as the church “mourns our beloved Holy Father and as we prepare our hearts for the election of his successor.”
“In this moment of great loss for the Universal Church, I ask that all bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful across the Local Church in Ghana offer prayers for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis,” it said.
It stated that as a sign of respect and honour in the memory and legacy of “our beloved Holy Father, a national memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date to be determined,” adding that all bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful who could attend would be invited to participate in the solemn liturgy.
Additionally, the statement encouraged all archdioceses, dioceses and parishes to organise local Requiem Masses and special Holy Hours in honour of Pope Francis, saying, “these should be moments of prayerful reflection on his teachings and witness.”
The statement further said schools, seminaries and other Catholic institutions could host prayer services, talks, or discussions to help the faithful, especially the young, to appreciate the life and legacy of Pope Francis.
“His life and ministry were a powerful witness to the Gospel values of love, mercy, and compassion. May the Lord, whom he served so faithfully and joyfully, welcome him into the eternal joy of His heavenly kingdom,” the statement added.
President Mahama, Speaker of Parliament
In a related development, President John Dramani Mahama has paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying, "his legacy of compassion, humility, and commitment to social justice will continue to inspire generations."
In a social media post, President Mahama said: “On behalf of my family and the people of Ghana, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Roman Catholic Church and all Catholic faithful in Ghana during this time of profound grief.
“I fondly remember visiting the Vatican with my wife, Lordina, where we had the distinct honour of meeting Pope Francis. His legacy of compassion, humility, and commitment to social justice will continue to inspire generations,” he said.
For his part, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, in a Facebook post, expressed sorrow at the news, describing it as a heavy blow to many Catholic faithful.
He recalled that the Pope had only recently led the church through the sacred triduum before his passing.
“Oh? Pope Francis just celebrated the sacred triduum with us, the flock, and departed so soon after. This is a blow to many faithful, but God knows best. It shall be well with our souls,” Mr Bagbin wrote.
Final sermon
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who announced the death of Pope Francis in a video statement, is now the acting head of the Roman Catholic Church ---- a role he will hold until a new pope is elected.
The news came as a surprise, particularly for those who had the privilege to witness his traditional Easter Sunday message from the balcony of the St Peter’s Basilica.
Though his voice sounded frail, it was interrupted with applause before the message was subsequently delivered on his behalf by his aide.
The Pope was driven through the cheering crowd around the St Peter’s Square in the Vatican in Rome in the open-top popemobile.
His message centred on peace and freedom of religion, thought, expression and respect for the views of others.
The message also called for an end to violence worldwide and compassion for the world’s marginalised and vulnerable people as well as migrants.
The Pope expressed his closeness to the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel and all the Israeli and Palestinian people, describing the climate of anti-Semitism throughout the world as worrisome.
Pope Francis was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from March 13, 2013, until his death.
He was the first pope from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.
He was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He joined the Jesuit Order of the church in 1958 and was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1969.
He served as the Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Argentina and became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.
However, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, Bergoglio was elected at a papal conclave as his successor on 13 March. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Pope Francis had experienced a string of health challenges in recent years and spent 38 days in hospital in February and March this year, but recovered enough to leave the hospital and just last Sunday, was greeting crowds on Easter Sunday in St Peter's Square.
