The Catholic community in Ghana and all over the world, was thrown into mourning when Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
A statement by the Vatican said the 88-year-old pontiff died following a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure at 07:35 local time (06:35 BST). The Catholic Pope had been down with sickness before he passed away.
In his tribute, President John Dramani Mahama, in his post on X, formally known as Twitter, said the late Pope Francis’ legacy of “compas¬sion, humility, and commitment to social justice will continue to inspire generations.”
He fondly recalled visiting the Vatican with his wife, Lordina, where they met Pope Francis.
He extended condolences to the Roman Catholic Church and Catholic faithful in Ghana on behalf of his family and the people of Ghana.
“May his soul rest in perfect peace,” Mahama prayed, as he mourned the passing of the influ¬ential spiritual leader.
Former President Akufo-Ad¬do, in his tribute posted on his X account, said he was saddened by the sorrowful news of the passing of the venerable Bishop of Rome, head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State, His Holiness Pope Francis.
He said since his election, the late Pope Francis has been a latent force of tolerance and inter-reli-gious cooperation.
Former President Akufo-Addo said late Pope Francis had given the world a clear indication of what his papacy would be in his choice of a papal name, Francis, after the great pilgrim Francis of Assisi.
“Pope Francis’ 12-year service as Pope has been one of genuine care for the downtrodden and the poor.
His deep concern for and vig¬orous pursuit of global peace and the progress of Africa had been consistently expressed during the times I had the privilege of meet¬ing him at the Vatican.” he stated.
He said Pope Francis was indeed “God’s treasured gift to our world of today. I extend a message of deep condolence to the Catholic community and Christendom”.
We pray that this great ser¬vant of humanity finds rest in the bosom of the creator until the last day of the resurrection, when we shall all meet again,” he added.
On his part, former Vice Pres¬ident of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Pope Francis, express¬ing his deep grief over the Pope’s passing Dr Bawumia in a short tribute described the late Pope “as a man of unwavering peace and compas¬sion” who lived a life of inclusive¬ness and humility.”
“When I visited him a year ago, he left such a remarkable impres¬sion on me as one whose true essence and outlook on life was to live pure and right,” Dr Bawumia wrote.
The death of Pope Francis, has sent reverberated throughout the world, as people from all walks of life mourn the loss of a spiritual leader who touched the lives of countless individuals.
Pope Francis born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected to the papacy in 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013.
He was the first pope from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), the first Latin American, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born or raised outside of Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.
One of the hallmarks of his Papacy, was his calls for ending poverty and inequality and for his compassionate approach to the papacy.
He promoted unity among Catholics and called upon the church to embrace its global diversity. He also championed the poor and oppressed. In his first public mass as pope, in March 2013, Francis called for spiritual renewal within the church.
Despite advocating for the Catholic Church to be more sympathetic towards LGBTQ people, and stated that although blessings of same-sex unions are not permitted, the individuals in a same-sex relationship can be blessed as long as the blessing is not given in a liturgical context.
Pope Francis, remained a popular and respected figure throughout his papacy. His humility, wisdom, and deep faith endeared him to people around the world, and he will be remembered as a leader who brought hope and inspiration to countless individuals.
As the world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, this newspaper emphasises that it is important to remember the many contributions he made to the church and to the world.
He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the message of love and hope he shared with all people.