The President of Ghana’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, lauded Pope Francis as a divinely inspired leader who addressed pressing global and ecclesiastical issues during his 12-year papacy, following the pontiff’s death Monday at age 88.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show, Gyamfi emphasized the late pope’s legacy of confronting institutional crises, promoting environmental stewardship, and fostering inclusivity within the Church.
“The Catholic Church and the world have lost a compassionate moral guide,” said Gyamfi, who also serves as Bishop of Sunyani. He credited Francis with implementing systemic reforms to curb clerical sexual abuse and renewing focus on doctrines that resonate with modern societal struggles. “He stepped in during a period of profound crisis and established teachings and structures to mitigate these challenges. His absence will be deeply felt,” Gyamfi added.
The bishop underscored the conclave process—set to begin within 15 to 20 days as a spiritually guided tradition designed to identify leaders suited to their historical moment. “Each pope is chosen by the Holy Spirit through the cardinals’ discernment,” he explained. “They emerge as responses to the specific needs of their era.” Gyamfi expressed confidence in the Church’s time-tested electoral protocols, noting refinements over centuries ensure orderly transitions despite evolving global dynamics, such as rising materialism in Europe, which Francis frequently critiqued.
Preparations for Francis’ funeral are underway, though a conclave date remains unannounced. Gyamfi highlighted the event’s solemnity, reflecting on the late pope’s preference for simplicity, a hallmark of his tenure.
As the Church navigates this interregnum, attention turns to how Francis’ progressive vision prioritizing marginalized communities and ecological justice might shape the next papacy. Gyamfi’s remarks underscore the growing influence of African prelates in global Catholic discourse, particularly as the continent’s congregations expand. While the conclave’s outcome remains uncertain, the bishop’s assurance of divine guidance offers solace to a global faithful grappling with the loss of a transformative figure.
The transition also invites reflection on balancing tradition with modernity, a tension Francis navigated through doctrinal pragmatism. His successor will inherit both his reforms and the unresolved debates they sparked, tasked with steering a billion-strong communion through an era of rapid social and ideological change.
