The Catholic Diocese of Ho has officially launched the Special Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, with a renewed call on the faithful to imitate the saint’s exemplary life of holiness, peace, simplicity and care for God’s creation.
The launch, held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Ho-Kpevele, was led by the Bishop of Ho, Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, under the theme: “Living the Gospel in Simplicity, Peace and Care of Creation.”
Addressing the congregation during the Eucharistic celebration, Bishop Fianu stated that the special Jubilee Year was proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of Francis of Assisi. The universal celebration runs from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027.
Bishop Fianu said the Holy Father has invited Christians throughout the world to follow the example of St. Francis by becoming models of holiness and steadfast witnesses of peace.
“The Pope prays that the shining example of St. Francis may inspire our hearts to live with authentic Christian charity towards our brothers and sisters, our neighbours, and with a sincere longing for concord and peace among peoples and with creation,” Bishop Fianu said.
He therefore encouraged the faithful of the Ho Diocese to embrace the Pope’s invitation wholeheartedly by deepening their commitment to the Gospel and living out the Franciscan values of humility, charity and service.
Bishop Fianu commended the Diocesan Jubilee Committee for developing a comprehensive calendar of pastoral and spiritual activities to guide the celebration throughout the Jubilee Year.
He noted that the planned activities would provide opportunities for Catholics to deepen their understanding of the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi while inspiring them to cultivate lives marked by peace, holiness and harmony with all of God’s creation.
Touching on the growing environmental crisis, the Bishop lamented the increasing effects of climate change, attributing many of the challenges to irresponsible human actions and neglect of the environment.
Referring to recent floods experienced in parts of Ghana, including Accra, he described them as reminders of humanity’s responsibility to protect creation.
“The floods in Accra and elsewhere are a warning to us to learn to listen to the voice of God, to respect the environment in which we live, and to live harmoniously with God’s creation,” he stressed.
The Bishop urged individuals, families and communities to adopt environmentally responsible lifestyles as an expression of Christian stewardship and obedience to God’s call to care for creation.
Reflecting on the day’s liturgical celebration of the feast of Thomas the Apostle, Bishop Fianu drew lessons from the Gospel account of the Apostle’s encounter with the Risen Christ.
He said St. Thomas initially struggled to believe the testimony of the other Apostles, insisting on seeing and touching the wounds of Jesus before accepting the reality of the Resurrection.
According to the Bishop Fianu, Thomas’ journey from doubt to faith demonstrates both the human search for certainty and God’s patient response to sincere seekers of truth.
He encouraged Christians to grow beyond dependence on physical evidence and to cultivate a mature faith rooted in trust, the witness of the Church and a personal encounter with Christ.
The launch of the Special Jubilee Year marks the beginning of a series of diocesan activities aimed at promoting the Franciscan ideals of simplicity, peace, fraternity and care for creation, while encouraging Catholics to renew their commitment to living the Gospel faithfully in today’s world.
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