The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Most Rev. Henryk M. Jagodzinski, has reiterated the call of Pope Francis that ‘Catholic universities must educate students in solidarity and fraternity and the culture of dialogue’ especially when the university will face the multi-ethnic and multi-religious context of education.
Addressing the 1st graduation and 32nd matriculation ceremony of the Catholic University of Ghana, at Fiapre, Sunyani on Saturday, October 29, 2022, he said “But most of all, Catholic students should not lose their identity as Christians and Catholics, but be true witnesses of Christ’s love for all.”
Below is the full address of the Nuncio:
Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and Chairman of the Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) Governing Council, Most. Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, Bishop of Keta-Akatsi, Prof. Daniel Obeng-Ofori, President of the Catholic University of Ghana, Hon. Justina Owusu-Banahene, Regional Minister, Bono Region, all Protocols observed, dear University Professors and the Matriculating Class, Good morning!
I am very happy to be with you today, the entire members of this Academic Community. As the representative of our Holy Father Pope Francis to your beautiful country, Ghana, it is my great joy to bring to you his blessings and greetings, whom I had an audience in the past May of this year. I impart his blessings upon each one of you.
First of all, I join with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ghana and the entire Catholic University of Ghana in thanking God for the great blessings the university has received, the Presidential Charter to operate fully as an autonomous University, awarding its own diplomas and degrees. On behalf of His Holiness Pope Francis, I express my gratitude to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana, for the honour done to the University, ‘through a Presidential assent granted the Charter at the Jubilee House for the Catholic University College (CUCG) to become a fully-fledged University’, now called the Catholic University of Ghana (CUG). To the CUG Academians, Congratulations!
As we celebrate the present blessings and achievements, it is but fitting that we honour and remember with gratitude people, both past and present, who are instruments of making this Catholic University of Ghana, what it is now. Taking information from the history of this university, we applaud the vision and decision of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference to make their contribution to the education in this country to the tertiary level. We also applaud the great courage and generosity of Most Rev. James K. Owusu of blessed memory, the then Bishop of Sunyani, and the Clergy, Religious and the faithful of the Diocese for providing the birth place of this noble project of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, helping taking care of it from its birth to the present under the leadership of His Lordship, Most Rev. Matthew K. Gyamfi, the present Ordinary of the Diocese. We also show our recognition and appreciation for the assistance of the Regional Ministers and their Coordinating Councils, the Traditional Leaders, the Chiefs and Queen Mothers, and the people of Sunyani-Fiapre for their invaluable support. May God bless you all.
The vision of opening a Catholic University in Ghana was conceived by the 7 Bishops who attended the 2nd Vatican Council and were inspired by ‘the humble resolve of initiative’ of Pope John XXIII, the Pope who convoked the 2nd Vatican Council, and to respond to his message in his Encyclical, Pacem in Terris: “We consider too that a further reason for this very frequent divorce between faith and practice in Christians is an inadequate education in Christian teaching and Christian morality…. It is essential, therefore, that the instruction given to our young people be complete and continuous, and imparted in such a way that moral goodness and the cultivation of religious values may keep pace with scientific knowledge and continually advancing technical progress. Young people must also be taught how to carry out their own particular obligations in a truly fitting manner (Pacem in Terris 153)”.
In God’s own time, after 40 years, the noble dream was realized by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and established the Catholic University which is continuously guided by the teachings of the Church, firstly by Pope John XXIII Encyclical Pacem in Terris which speaks of education as ‘complete, continuous, well-rounded and contextualized’ and by the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on Christian Education Gravissimum Educationis which continues to be the basis of the foundation of Christian Education: “Since all Christians have become by rebirth of water and the Holy Spirit a new creature(8) so that they should be called and should be children of God, they have a right to a Christian education. A Christian education does not merely strive for the maturing of a human person as just now described, but has as its principal purpose this goal: …. while they are gradually introduced the knowledge of the mystery of salvation, become ever more aware of the gift of Faith they have received… that they develop into perfect manhood, to the mature measure of the fullness of Christ (cf. Eph. 4:13) and strive for the growth of the Mystical Body; moreover, that aware of their calling, they learn not only how to bear witness to the hope that is in them (cf. Peter 3:15) but also how to help in the Christian formation of the world… Wherefore this sacred synod recalls to pastors of souls their most serious obligation to see to it that all the faithful, but especially the youth who are the hope of the Church, enjoy this Christian education.(GE#2)
As the representative of our Holy Father His Holiness Pope Francis, I would like to bring to you some of his messages of inspirations and challenge to the Catholic Education. Taking its base and inspiration from the above Encyclical and Declaration, that of ‘bearing witness to the hope and faith … and to help in the Christian formation of the world’ and’ of education that is complete, continuous, well-rounded and contextualized’, Pope Francis said that “Catholic Education is also evangelization: bearing witness to the joy of the Gospel and its power to renew our communities and provide hope and strength in facing wisely the challenges of the present time.” The Pope encouraged Catholic Universities to discern ‘innovative ways of uniting research with best practices so that teachers can serve the whole person in a process of integral human development. He further said, “this means forming the head, hands and heart together: preserving and enhancing the link between learning, doing and feeling in the noblest sense. In this way, Catholic University will be able to offer not only an excellent academic curriculum, but also a coherent vision inspired by the teachings of Christ.” He also encouraged educators saying, “you are called to nurture the desire for truth, goodness and beauty that lies in the heart of each individual student, so that all may learn how to love life and be open to the fullness of Life.” (Pope’s Message to the delegation of English-speaking Catholic Universities, 22 April 2022.)
In his address to the members of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, he reminds them that the fruits of study must have a relational and social purpose. In his discourse, the Pope outlined some university challenges which include:
- Preparing new generations, students, to become qualified professionals, and also proponents of the common good, creative and responsible leaders in social and civil life, with proper vision of the person and world;
- Universities today need to consider what contribution they can and must make to the integral health of the person and to an inclusive ecology;
- Catholic Universities in particular, need to become places ‘where solutions for civil and cultural progress for individual persons and for humanity, marked by solidarity, are pursued with perseverance and professionalism.
In his visit to one of the Catholic Universities in Rome, Pope Francis reflected on four points, indicating the responsibilities and aims of a Catholic Institute of Higher Learning:
- He highlighted the need for community saying “The university community always works for the future, but does so with a strong awareness of its roots and a realistic perception of the present.”
- He spoke of the institution’s missionary responsibility before the world; the formation it offers must include curricular knowledge and space for the integral formation of the person.
- He stressed a ‘social responsibility’: that the university is called to activate virtuous circuits of integral development with the living forces of society. The university needs the courage to get involved – to open its spaces to the old and new realities of poverty.
- The final point, Pope Francis encourages inter-university responsibility – to work in the university system at all levels and in particular with Catholic universities so that a fruitful climate of cooperation, exchange and mutual help may be created.
Talking of the nature and purpose of Catholic education, the recent popes Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI as well as Pope Francis have some common themes which are – the essential link between education and the Gospel, the need to cultivate a sense for the true, the good and the beautiful.
Pope John Paul II said that Teaching is more than a profession or a job for it is rooted in our deepest convictions and values. He spoke about the challenging and profoundly satisfying experiences that come with a catholic teacher. The profession as a teachers involves tasks that are linked to their baptism and to the commitment in faith. He further said that essential to Catholic education is the entrusting to young people of this ‘great treasure’ of Christ and the Gospel. Only with this great treasure will young people be able to think critically, to go to the foundations of existence, to see through the trends and slogans of the moment and embrace authentic truth, and authentic freedom. He addressed these words to the young people: “Dear young friends: do not allow this treasure to be taken from you! … Love ‘rejoices in the truth’. Seek out this truth where it is really to be found! If necessary, be resolved to go against the current of popular opinion and propaganda slogans! Do not be afraid of the love that places clear demands on people. These demands – as you find them in the constant teaching of the Church – are precisely capable of making your love a true love”. Remember that the truth leads to Christ, for he alone is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”. (cf. St. Pope John Paul II Address to Catholic Educators in Melbourne, 1986.)
For Pope Em. Benedict XVI, he said that “Education is integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News. First and foremost every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth. The ‘crisis of truth’ the world is undergoing today is a direct result, he said, of a ‘crisis of faith’ – of a world that has turned away from its transcendent source and goal, from the very foundation of its existence. This is why truth and faith need to be deeply integrated in a Catholic education – they feed each other.’ (cf. Pope Benedict XVI Address to Catholic Educators in Washington DC, 2008)
I conclude reiterating the call of Pope Francis that ‘Catholic universities must educate students in solidarity and fraternity and the culture of dialogue’ especially when the university will face the multi-ethnic and multi-religious context of education. But most of all, Catholic students should not lose their identity as Christians and Catholics, but be true witnesses of Christ’s love for all.
To the Graduation and Matriculating Class, I wish you all a beautiful journey at school, an academic journey that will develop your mind and heart, conscience, together with your practical abilities. May God bless the Catholic University and may Mary, Mother of Wisdom, accompany all members of the Academic Community of the Catholic University of Ghana. God Bless you all
