The Most Rev. Henryk Mieczyslaw Jagodzinski, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, has stated that the diplomatic activity of the Holy See does not pursue political and worldly goals, but it pursues spiritual and religious goals resulting from the mission of the Church.
He said Vatican diplomacy has the task of ensuring freedom for the Church in the realization of her strict religious mission, on the other hand, it proposes cooperation to states and international organisations in the recognition of the highest moral values in building and strengthening peace in the world, the development of solidarity between peoples.
He said these as the special Guest of Honour at a two-day Conference to mark 140th anniversary of the presence of the Society of African Missions (SMA) in Kumasi.
The Conference held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) from Wednesday, January 18 to 20 was on the theme: “Kumasi Meeting point of Religion, Royalty and Diplomacy: Commemorating 140 years of the visit of Father Auguste Moreau (SMA) to Mannhyia.”
It was organised by the SMA in collaboration with the Department of Religious Studies, History and Political Studies and the Centre for Cultural and African Studies of the KNUST.
According to Archbishop Jagodzinski at the opening of the Conference on January 18, 2023 “The diplomatic activity of the Holy See is a concrete expression of its two fundamental tasks: to promote unity between the universal Church and the local Churches, and to bring about the historical actualization of the solicitude that the Pope, as supreme Pastor of the universal Church, must have for Christ’s flock in building up the Kingdom of God in human history.”
He said papal diplomacy is a tool that also undergoes changes according to needs, stating that the activities of papal diplomacy are aimed at achieving ecclesiastical unity.
“This task derives from the fact that she belongs to the community that is the Church, which is scattered throughout the world,” he added, saying, “The centre of this unity is the “office of St. Peter” exercised by the Pope.”
He noted that “In order to answer the question about the sense of the existence of papal diplomacy, one can indicate that the first reason for its existence is to help in the exercise of the office entrusted to St. Peter and his successors.”
According to the Nuncio, “This is also the task of helping the Pope, which is also the responsibility of the Roman Curia, of which papal diplomacy is an integral part.”
He stressed that the Holy See is at the service of individuals and nations, to help them walk together on the paths of life and hope.
“Pontifical diplomats seek, with their presence, their action and with the mediation of the diplomatic instrument, to convince those who hold responsibility for societies that violence, fear, evil, mistrust, death cannot have the last word,” he said.
The Conference was attended by many dignitaries including the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, the Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Anokye; the Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, the Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, who was the Keynote Speaker; the Provincial Superior of the SMA in Ghana, Very Rev. Fr. Paul Saa-Dade Ennin; the Vice Chancellor of KNUST Prof (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson.
By Sr. Amanda P Nyame RVM, Sr. Angela Kileo FSP, Sr. Gloria Duongnaa SMI, Sr. Naomi Addai, HHCJ, Sr. Rosily Abraham JMJ
