Navrongo: Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, a Ghanaian prelate and Cardinal of the Catholic Church, has urged Christians to embrace and harness their cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity as a strength for the service of God and humanity. Cardinal Turkson stated that diversity should not be a source of division, conflict, or exclusion, but should instead be transformed into a force for unity, evangelization, and community development.
According to Ghana News Agency, Cardinal Turkson, who is the Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, made this call during a keynote address at the maiden Pastoral Congress of the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga. The event, held in Navrongo, was part of activities marking the 120th anniversary of the diocese.
The week-long congress is themed: 'Beyond 120 Years as a Local Church: Embracing Synodality in the Spirit of Evangelisation and Service.' Drawing inspiration from the biblical account of Pentecost, Cardinal Turkson noted that the Holy Spirit united people from different nations, languages, and cultures without erasing their unique identities.
"The Holy Spirit creates unity without destroying differences. Diversity was not destroyed or erased but embraced and transformed into a fellowship. The multitude remained diverse, yet they could now say, 'we hear them speaking about God's mighty deeds,'" he said.
The Cardinal observed that the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, which comprises several ethnic groups and cultures, has, for 120 years, demonstrated how people from different backgrounds can live and work together as one Christian community. He emphasized that the same spirit of unity in diversity should continue to guide the Church as it seeks to respond to contemporary challenges.
"Despite our diversity of backgrounds, languages, and cultures, through the common grace of baptism, we have been able to live these 120 years together with one heart and one spirit," he stated.
Cardinal Turkson explained that synodality, which emphasizes listening, participation, and communion within the Church, requires members to recognize the dignity of one another and create opportunities for every voice to be heard. According to him, genuine listening can only take place when people respect the inherent dignity of others regardless of their social status, ethnic origin, or background.
The Cardinal noted that every baptized Christian has a role to play in the mission of the Church and should use their God-given talents and gifts for the common good. He said while the Holy Spirit bestows gifts on individuals for personal growth and holiness, those gifts are also meant to build up the Church and strengthen Christian communities.
Cardinal Turkson urged Christians to remain firmly rooted in Christ and work together to promote peace, justice, reconciliation, and development within their communities. He said that as the diocese celebrates 120 years of evangelization, members should focus not only on past achievements but also on how they can collectively advance the mission of the Church in the years ahead.
The week-long pastoral congress has brought together more than 250 delegates from the diocese's 27 parishes, chaplaincies, and diaspora communities to reflect on issues of evangelization, education, liturgy, integral human development, and social communication. The gathering forms part of efforts by the Diocese to chart a new course for its future mission while deepening participation and collaboration among the faithful.
The Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, said the celebration of 120 years of evangelization was an opportunity for the local Church to reflect on its journey and discern God's direction for the future. He noted that the faith planted by the pioneer Missionaries of Africa in 1906 had grown steadily over the years into a vibrant local Church serving thousands of faithful across the region.
Bishop Agyenta explained that the congress was intended to help the Church assess its strengths and challenges while charting a common path towards more effective evangelization and service in a rapidly changing world.
The Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Bishop Emeritus (retired) of the Catholic Diocese of Konongo-Mampong and special guest at the event, urged priests and the lay faithful to work together to spread the word of God and strengthen human development.
The Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese was established in Navrongo by the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in 1906 and has since grown to encompass 27 parishes.