Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has met with the newly elected head of the Roman Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, at the Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Italy.
The Sunday May 18 meeting, which forms part of the Inaugural Mass for the Pope, who was selected barely two weeks ago, replacing his predecessor Pope Francis.
Francis died last month, Easter Monday, April 21 at age 88.
Ablakwa, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Tongu constituency, was at the privileged event in his capacity as Ghana and President John Dramani Mahama’s representative.
In a post shared on his social media pages, the Minister expressed his delight in meeting the Pope for the first time.
“It has been a profound honour representing President, John Mahama and Ghana at the Inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at Saint Peter’s Square.
I am eternally grateful for the Supreme Pontiff’s blessings and warmth”, he said.
Born Robert Francis Prevost, on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois in the United States is the first American-born Pope.
He was elected Pope on Thursday, May 8 following just three rounds of voting during a two-day conclave in the wake of Francis’ death from stroke.