'It was like sitting with a saint' - Father Campbell details meeting with Pope Francis

Fr. Andrew Campbell, SVD, a dedicated servant of the marginalized in Ghana, realized a long-held dream this week as he sat down for a heartfelt encounter with His Holiness Pope Francis.

The meeting, which took place on the morning of May 27, marked for Fr. Campbell over five decades of tirelessly caring for lepers in Ghana.

Speaking in an interview with Catholic Trends after the apostolic encounter, Fr. Campbell narrated events leading to his meeting with the Pope, likening the encounter to a meeting with a "saint."

"When I realized I had been caring for the lepers at Weija for 50 years, I said, 'I must do something to commemorate 50 years of serving the marginalized in Weija.' So I said, 'Let me go to Rome. Let me go and meet the Holy Father,'" he recounted.

Despite encountering obstacles along the way to achieving his goal, Fr. Campbell said he remained undeterred in his resolve to meet Pope Francis.

"I always admired him. He's a man of the poor, a man of the marginalized, you know, and I wanted one day to shake hands with him. So, that's the reason why I wanted to come to Rome, and that's what I did today. I feel so happy," he remarked, expressing his admiration for the Pontiff's commitment to social justice.

Fr. Campbell further told Catholic Trends that the meeting was characterized by warmth and genuine concern. The priest said the team, including Ghana's ambassador to Italy, Mrs. Merene Botsio Benyah, and her husband, Mr. Henry Benyah, as well as board member of the Lepers Aid Committee, Mr. Gabriel Asempa Antwi and his wife, Mrs. Priscilla Asempa Antwi, felt immediately at ease in the presence of Pope Francis.

"It was a little chat with them, you know, we were five of us. He just had a chat with us, he listened to us," Fr. Campbell recalled, highlighting the Pope's ability to make everyone feel valued and understood.

During their conversation, Fr. Campbell shared insights into his work with the lepers of Ghana, underscoring the challenges faced by the most vulnerable members of society.

"I talked about my work with the lepers. We have been working in different settlements in Ghana, how we take care of them and look after them, how they are marginalized and forgotten."

He continued, "I talked about the most neglected people in Ghana. I'm always begging for assistance because the cost of drugs, food, utilities, and others are high. I told him I am a begging priest, always asking people to come and help in one way or another. So I told him about the lepers and the hundred thousand street children on the streets of Accra. I work with prostitutes, I work with prisoners. So I mentioned all these people."

In response, Pope Francis offered words of encouragement, saying, "Encouraged, don't give up. Keep on going. Keep on going. Keep on going, don't give up, don't give up."

"You are brave, Father, you're brave. What did Jesus do? Jesus' work was a work of healing, bringing love, hope, and care to the poor and the needy. You're doing the work of Jesus," Pope Francis said.

Reflecting on the experience, Fr. Campbell likened the encounter to sitting with a saint. "It was like sitting with a saint, you know, this man is such a wonderful man. A man of prayer, a man of courage. And it was just wonderful, just being in his library, sitting down beside him in his office and chatting with him. It is certainly something I will never forget in my life," Fr. Campbell expressed.

Drawing inspiration from Saint Teresa of Kolkata, India, Fr. Andrew Campbell has devoted his life to serving the impoverished and marginalized communities of Ghana. His impact has been profound, particularly in his efforts to support street children, individuals afflicted by disabilities like leprosy, and those who face systemic disadvantages within society.