The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, has honoured Pope Francis with a solemn tribute, recognising him as a leader divinely chosen to address the unique challenges of his time.
Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for 12 years, passed away on Monday morning, April 21, 2025, after struggling with recent health issues. He leaves behind a legacy marked by his commitment to environmental stewardship, inclusivity within the Church, and a determined effort to confront abuses that have troubled the institution.
Bishop Gyamfi, in an interview, noted that both the Catholic Church and the broader world are grieving the loss of a figure who represented compassion, reform, and strong moral integrity.
“We are shocked to hear the passing of the Holy Father. The Catholic Church and the whole world are mourning such a great leader,” he said.
“He came in at a time when the Church was going through a crisis of sexual abuse and other challenges. He was able to stem this and put in place systems and teachings to lessen such problems in the Church. He will be very much missed”, Gyamfi, who doubles as the Bishop of Sunyani, highlighted.
Transition to a New Pope
The process for electing a new pope, known as the conclave, typically occurs within 15 to 20 days after a pontiff’s death.
Reflecting on this process, the Ghanaian bishop reassured the faithful that the Church follows a time-honoured procedure that has proven effective over the years.
“There is an established procedure. We already know who will be in charge of affairs. Under our traditions and systems, preparations for burial will take place and then the cardinals will enter what we call the conclave,” he explained in an interview on Asaase radio.
He described the conclave—a solemn assembly of cardinals—as a profoundly spiritual event, wherein the participants engage in prayer and discernment to select the next leader of the Church.
“Every Pope is chosen for us by the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of human beings. That is, the Cardinals,” he said. “Each Pope comes with a specific response to the needs of the time”.
Bishop Gyamfi also reflected on how the leadership of the Catholic Church adapts to global shifts, including the growing materialism and relativism in Europe, issues that Pope Francis aimed to address.
He expressed confidence in the Church’s ability to build on past experiences to improve the election process, noting that “this practice of electing the Pope is a tradition or culture that has been tried, tested and refined.”
“As we look forward to a new Pope, we expect the conclave to be even more orderly and guided by lessons of the past,” he added.
Preparations for Pope Francis’s funeral are in progress at the Vatican, with the date for the conclave yet to be determined.
