The Catholic Bishop of Wa Diocese, Most Reverend Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M.Afr, has been elevated to the status of a Cardinal by the Pope.
Speaking with Info Radio in Wa on Sunday following the news of his elevation, Most Rev Baawobr thanked the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for the honour done him by elevating him to the status of a Cardinal.
The Holy Father, Pope Francis named Most Rev. Baawobr among 21 new Cardinals to be created on August 27, 2022.
The Bishop’s Office, Maria Yiri, in Wa, also released a circular to confirm the appointment of Most Rev. Baawobr to the status of a Cardinal.
He however said he was amazed when he received the news of his elevation as he never anticipated it, but added that it was a call to service which he had to honour.
“It really came to me as a surprise because a couple of days ago, I was in Rome to attend a meeting at the Pontifical Council of Promoting Christian Unity and nobody said anything, I did not suspect anything.
“It was in the newspapers I read that there were going to be cardinals who would be appointed, but I said this concerns other people, it doesn’t concern me because in my understanding it is Arch Bishops who are appointed as cardinals not the Bishops who are in Diocese”, he intimated.
Most Rev. Baawobr said his goal was to serve God and mankind as the God decreed regardless of the position he held.
He said every Christian should draw inspiration from the belief that the greatness of being a Christian is in the service they render and not the titles they hold.
Most Rev. Baawobr served in the Democratic Republic of Congo for 4 years, before being transferred to Tanzania where he served in the House of Formation for three years, and later worked in France where he again served in the House of Formation.
He was later elected the 1st Assistant-General to the Superior-General of the Missionaries of Africa in Rome, a position he served for 6 years before he was elected the Superior-General where he served another 6 years.
Pope Francis then appointed Most Rev. Baawobr as the Bishop of Wa after his tenure of Superior-General ended. He had served as the Bishop of Wa for the past 6 years.
He is currently in charge of Inter-religious Dialogue on promoting understanding between Christians and Muslims, Ecumenism-Dialogue with other Christian churches and also in charge of the Clergy.
According to the Vatican, eight of the newly named Cardinals are from Europe, six from Asia, two from Africa, one from North America, and four from Central and Latin America.
Kommentare