Pope welcomes ambassador, nuncio, PM

December 20, 2013 - Pope Francis on Friday welcomed to the Vatican Ghana’s new ambassador to the Holy See, James K. Bebaako-Mensah. At a formal ceremony, Bebaako-Mensah presented his credentials to the Pontiff, initiating his diplomatic mission. The 72-year old father of 5 children is a political science graduate and post-graduate in public administration. He has held several administrative posts in Ghana as well as in the ministries of transport, industry, social welfare, cabinet secretary and most recently the secretary of the president of Ghana. Among others the Pope received Friday was also Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal.
The previous day, Thursday, Pope Francis received Prime Minister Ralph Everard Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who later also met Vatican Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States. The talks between the two sides focussed on common issues such as the defence of life and the family, education and interreligious dialogue. They also touched upon other issues regarding the countries in the area and collaboration within the regional organizations.