Pope Francis requests prayers for Ghanaian Cardinal's recovery

Pope Francis has requested prayers for Richard Kuuia Baawobr, Ghanaian Cardinal, who missed the consistory due to heart issues. During the consistory in his sermon, the Pope mentioned that the Local Ordinary Diocese of Wa, Ghana, had been admitted to the hospital, and he requested prayers for his speedy recovery. He added that the Cardinal suffered heart problems when he arrived in Rome and had an operation.

Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke of Nigeria's Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia and Cardinal Baawobr are the newly designated cardinals from Africa. Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, another Ghanaian cardinal, is currently the chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

At SECAM's 19th Plenary Assembly, Cardinal Baawobr was elected President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) on 30th July in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

The Cardinal also serves as a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Mentioning his mission as a cardinal, he said it was an opportunity to renew the commitment to serve and collaborate with the Pope. He added that if people need collaboration to achieve a goal, that should be offered with humility, joy and simplicity. He said we are here to serve, and that will make us great, not the achieved title. Being designated a Cardinal, Cardinal Baawobr emphasized, is a way to serve in total capacity.

The Catholic Bishops said that for the mission of the Church, he is ready to offer his collaborations to the Holy Father as and when needed.

He is well-known in Ghana and many places for his kind acts of charity. His affection towards people with mental illness and the ones neglected by their families is genuine and generous.

He was named a Bishop in 2016, and the same year volunteers at the Bishop's project went on the streets seeking patients with mental illness to provide them help and care.

The project includes faith-based organizations, Parishes, and religious men and women. It also got doctors and nurses who began giving free medication.

The Bishop project recently started using social media platforms to create and spread awareness regarding mental illnesses and issues in a country where the stigmatization of people with mental challenges is more.