Pope Leo XIV pledges support for Ghana’s development, hints at future visit

Head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV, has pledged strong support for Ghana’s development initiatives and hinted at a possible future visit.

This took place during a recent private meeting with Ghana’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Sir Ben Batabe Assorow.

The Ambassador formally presented his Letters of Credence to the Holy Father at the Vatican, marking the official start of his tenure.

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Following the presentation, the two held a private meeting at the Holy Father’s Library, according to a report by graphic.com.gh.

During the meeting, Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the strong bonds that existed between Ghana and the Holy See, which spanned five decades since the establishment of official diplomatic relations in 1975.

He noted that those ties were further strengthened when Ghana officially appointed a Resident Ambassador to the Holy See in 2013.

He also recounted the partnering role the Catholic Church played in the development of Ghana and thanked the Holy Father for the continued support for Ghana’s development in the areas of education, health, etc throughout the country.

The Pope reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to the spiritual and human development of all people, irrespective of religious background.

“The Catholic Church does not seek to proselytise but rather to promote the welfare, dignity and integral development of every human person through education, health care, social outreach and advocacy for justice and peace", he stressed.

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In response to an appeal conveyed on behalf of the President of Ghana for a Papal Visit, Pope Leo XIV indicated that he looks forward to visiting Ghana and affirmed that, “The President of Ghana would be most welcome at the Vatican.”

Ambassador Assorow, in turn, conveyed fraternal greetings from the President, government, and people of Ghana and briefed the Pope on key national initiatives, including the Reset Agenda, the 24-hour economy programme, anti-illegal mining efforts, and a robust anti-corruption campaign.

He explained that these measures were “intended to improve the living conditions of all Ghanaians and to bring tangible relief to the population.”

Touching on historic ties, the Ambassador recalled the visit of Saint John Paul II to Ghana in 1980 and expressed hope that Pope Leo XIV’s visit, whether before or during the 2027 and 2030 commemorations, would be, “A great blessing for Ghana and the wider region.”

At the end of the audience, Ambassador Assorow requested the special Apostolic Blessing of the Holy Father on himself and the Republic of Ghana. Pope Leo XIV graciously imparted his blessing on the Ambassador, his delegation, and, by extension, the President, government, and people of Ghana.

The Ambassador was accompanied by his spouse, Josephine Assorow; daughter, Elizabeth Assorow; diplomatic staff; and representatives of the Ghanaian Catholic community in Italy.

JKB/EB

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