"I bring the Pope’s greetings, his Apostolic Blessing and his fervent
wish that your nation continues to move forward in peace and stability,
on a path of development that may become a model of unity and progress
with respect for human rights and the environment whereby all its people
can prosper and even the most vulnerable will not suffer
marginalization or neglect", said His Eminence Giuseppe Cardinal
Bertello at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, in the course of celebrations to
re-consecrate Ghana to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Cardinal Bertello, President of the Pontifical Commission for the
Vatican City State and for the Governorate of the Vatican City, was sent
by the Pope as his representative for the celebrations.
He noted that
it is very heartening to see the progress Ghana has made in these sixty
years: the consolidation of its democratic institutions, the growth of
diverse potentialities, the establishment of diplomatic relations with
other nations, making it an important contributor for the preservation
of peace in areas of conflict.
"And all by remaining faithful in spite
of great hardships - to its humane ideals. For this reason the Bishops
of Ghana were inspired to consecrate their country to the Sacred Heart
of Jesus", said Cardinal Bartello.
He added that "today gives us another reason to rejoice, for during the
celebration of these First Lenten Vespers, Ghana will be re-consecrated
to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today will be renewed what occurred sixty
years ago, when, on March 3 rd , 1957, a few days short of the
proclamation of independence on March 6, the country was consecrated to
the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a consecration that was later repeated in the
year 2007 on the Golden Jubilee of its birth as a nation".