Promote unity, dialogue for social harmony - Pope tells Ghanaian Bishops
Pope Francis on Tuesday called on the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) to be promoters of unity and leaders in dialogue to ensure social harmony in Ghana.
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“Be close to other Christian leaders and the heads of other religious communities. Ecumenical and interreligious cooperation, when carried out with respect and an open heart, contributes to the social harmony of your country, and enables growth in an understanding of the dignity of each person and a greater experience of our common humanity,” he said.
Addressing a group of Ghanaian bishops led by the President of the GCBC, Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Pope Francis observed that Ghana had been spared much of the tribal, ethnic and religious divisions that had “afflicted too many other parts of Africa, a continent whose promise, in part due to these divisions, has yet to be fulfilled.”
The bishops are presently in Rome for their "ad limina apostolorum" visit to the Pope and to the various dicasteries (namely the Administrative Offices and Departments of the Holy See), which traditionally includes a pilgrimage to the Roman Basilicas.
"Ad limina apostolorum" visit is when bishops deliver an account of the state of their dioceses to the pope once every five years.
“I pray that you will be ever greater promoters of unity and leaders in the service of dialogue! May you be firm in upholding the Church’s teaching and discipline, and unyielding in your charity. And may your generosity in offering Christ be matched only by your humble and patient openness to others,” Pope Francis admonished the Ghanaian bishops.
Pope Francis said Ghana was blessed with a population that naturally and easily expressed its belief in God and sought to honour God in the variety of religious traditions present in Ghana.
He expressed concern about the challenges confronting the health sector not only in Ghana but throughout West Africa, especially with the outbreak of Ebola and prayed to God to strengthen all healthcare workers there and bring an end to this tragedy.
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Commendation
Pope Francis noted that the Church in Ghana, “is justly respected for the contribution she makes to the integral development of individuals and the entire nation.”
He urged the bishops to be close to their priests supporting them as fathers, easing their burdens and leading them with tenderness.
“Please convey my heartfelt gratitude to them and to all religious men and women in Ghana, upon whom so much of the necessary work of evangelisation depends, for their daily sacrifices. I ask the Lord to bless them continually with dedication, zeal and fidelity.
Invitation to Ghana
In his address, Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu, extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit Ghana and the church in Africa as such a visit “will give our faith a great boost and will be a source of inspiration to the Catholic Church in Africa”.
The last Pope to visit Ghana was Pope John Paul II in 1980 during the centenary celebrations of the church.
He said the church in Africa had great prospects for evangelisation and contribution to the creation of a just and free society in the world.
Most Rev.Osei-Bonsu later dressed the Holy Father in a beautiful Kente Stole with his name "Pope Francis" and the coat of arms of the Vatican etched on it.