Asantehene mourns with Catholics

Kumasi, April 5, GNA- Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has observed that the death of Pope John Paul II, had robbed the world of an inspirer and a courageous man of God dedicated to the cause of peace. He said the Catholic spiritual leader stood on the side of the poor, the under-privileged and championed the fight against moral and social injustice.

A statement issued in Kumasi conveyed the condolences of the Asante Kingdom to the people and Government of the Vatican for the loss of the Papal.

"We in Asante received with profound grief and disbelief the news of the passing of the Holy Father in Rome on Saturday, April 2, 2005 at 9:37 pm (Rome Time).

For about a quarter of a century, we watched Pope John Paul as the world's foremost evangelist, stretching Catholicism and the message of love and peace to all corners of the globe". Otumfuo Osei Tutu paid tribute to the Holy Father's relentless efforts at reconciling differences within Christendom and the positive relationships he forged through dialogue with people of different faiths and religion.

The Asantehene, who recalled the Pope's visit to the Manhyia Palace in May 1980, said, "He became the conscience of the world. "He never relented in his peace efforts in the world of increasing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional rivalries and strive."