Archbishop Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson says even though his new appointment as the President of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace is a daunting task, he would live up to the challenge to bring peace, unity and justice to mankind.
Speaking to the faithful at the Saint Francis de Sales Cathedral last Friday after his return from the Vatican, where he received the award, Cardinal Turkson said he accepted his elevation with humility, and expressed the hope that with God’s guidance and the support of the church and Ghanaians, he would live up to the task.
Cardinal Turkson told the congregation, which included the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana Leon Kalenga, Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, His Grace, Akwasi Sarpong, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Gabriel Charles Palmer Buckle, Bishop Daniel Cannon Allotey, the Anglican Bishop of the Cape Coast and the Bishops of Obuasi, Goaso and Techiman, that his appointment underscored his deep quest for peace and justice for mankind.
Cardinal Turkson serves as the Chairman of the National Peace Council in Ghana and as a member of the Eminent Persons Mediating for peace in the Dagbon crisis.
He said he had foreknowledge of his appointment and was not surprised when it was made at the Vatican Summit in Rome before he made a presentation at the conference.
He said what dawned on him most about the challenge were the approaches made by the Archbishops of Congo, Rwanda and Somalia to him to assist them in solving their crises soon after his appointment was announced.
Fraternal messages were read by the Catholic Bishops Conference and the Archdiocesan Priests Association.
Earlier, Cardinal Turkson had arrived to a rousing welcome by faithful at the Holy Child Senior High School Junction, near Ekon, from where he was driven in an open-top vehicle through the Savoy Street to the London Bridge road to the Emintsimadze Palace of the Oguaamanhen.
The Oguaamanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, who poured powder into the palm of Cardinal Turkson, also presented him with a palm branch to signify his triumph return to Cape Coast with another feather in his cap.
Osabarima Kwesi Atta commended Cardinal Turkson for his humility, which, he said, had brought honour and glory to Cape Coast, the Central Region, Ghana and Africa.
He said the Oguaa Traditional Council would support him in all his endeavours to achieve higher and greater laurels in the hierarchy of the Church.
Cardinal Turkson said even though he would be out of the country, he would continue to keep in touch with his people for their mutual benefit.
Bishop Allotey later told the press that he would not be surprised to see the first black Pope in the person of Cardinal Turkson.
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