On Sunday, May 18, Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, met with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

The Ghanaian minister joined over 200,000 pilgrims, leaders, representatives of Christian denominations to observe the inauguration of the Pope at Saint Peter's Square.

Mr Ablakwa, who represented Ghana's President, John Mahama, noted that he received the supreme pontiff's blessings and warmth.

"I am eternally grateful," he wrote in a post on Facebook.

Following the inauguration mass, Mr Ablakwa conferred with His Eminence Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

"Together with incoming Ambassador to the Holy See, Madam Sati Ocran we conveyed President Mahama’s best wishes and celebrated his exploits as Catholic Prelate and Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences," the minister wrote.

Mr Ablakwa indicated that Ghana remains immensely proud of Cardinal Turkson’s globally acclaimed accomplishments.

He also engaged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who expressed excitement in seeing him.

Ghana's Foreign Minister also exchanged pleasantries with President of Gabon, H.E. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and Prime Minister H.E. Mike Carney of Canada.

"I extended warm and brotherly felicitations from His Excellency President John Mahama and conveyed best wishes of the good people of Ghana."

"In this era of geopolitical uncertainty and volatility, Ghana is determined to remain a loyal and trusted partner to all our friends across the world," he added.

The Pope's inauguration mass

On May 8, the Conclave elected Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome. The first Augustinian Pope, Robert Prevost - now Leo XIV - is the second Roman Pontiff from the Americas after Pope Francis.

At his inauguration, Pope, Leo XIV, noted the emotions that set in upon the death of Pope Francis.

"Following the death of Pope Francis, we felt like sheep without a shepherd," he recalled, "yet having received his final blessing on Easter Sunday, and with eyes of faith, hope, and joy, we remembered how the Lord never abandons His people.”

For a successful election, he pointed at the "the working of the Holy Spirit, who was able to bring us into harmony, like musical instruments, so that our heartstrings could vibrate in a single melody.”

He used the opportunity to thank all who came to observe and celebrate his inauguration.