Significance of GCBC’s Friday meeting with Pope Francis 

The Ad Limina visit is an important moment in the exercise of the Holy Father’s pastoral ministry. During such a visit, the Supreme Pontiff receives Bishops from a particular country and discusses with them their questions concerning their ecclesial mission.

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference are in Rome for such a visit and they will be meeting Pope Francis on Friday the 26th of May 2023. This meeting is very significant and important for the following reasons:

• It shows the proper reverence to Pope Francis as the Successor of St. Peter,
• It acknowledges practically his universal jurisdiction by giving an account of the condition of their respective archdiocese or diocese
• The bishops receive his blessings, admonitions and counsel,
• It binds more closely the members of the church to its Divinely appointed head

Report of each diocese is ordinarily sent to the Congregation of Bishops approximately six months (and in every case, not less than three months) before the “Ad Limina” visit, so that it can be studied and synthesized and a summary presented to the Holy Father. This will allow him to acquaint himself with the condition and the problems of each Church prior to the visit

The appropriate dress for the meetings with the Holy Father is the black cassock with appropriately coloured piping and a sash.”

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