Ho, Nov. 4, GNA - Pope Benedict XVI has exhorted Catholics in the Volta Region to continue in unity for the steady growth and stability of the Church in the region.

Most Rev George Kochery, the Apostolic Nuncio, delivered the exhortation at a mass to climax the 30th anniversary of the installation of Most Rev Francis Lodonu as the first indigenous bishop of the Keta/Ho diocese and the establishment of the see at Ho. Members of the Catholic Bishop's Conference, the Bishop of Lome, members of parliament, chiefs and delegates from other dioceses in the country attended the mass.

Pope Benedict said the stature of the Church in the Volta Region under the leadership of Most Rev Lodonu showed that it was blessed with devoted members and thanked God for his blessing. In a sermon Most Reverend Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Archbishop of Kumasi, lauded Bishop Lodonu for his invaluable services towards the spiritual and physical growth and development of the Church in the Volta Region and Ghana in general.

Archbishop Sarpong said for 18 years Bishop Lodonu, with God's assistance, nurtured the Keta-Ho Diocese "strengthening its weak joints and in the last 12 years, the Diocese of Ho". He said Bishop Lodonu's work in the Church was manifested by the vanguard work of Catholics from the Volta Region in evangelisation throughout the country.

"To restrict myself to Kumasi, the faith exhibited by Catholics from the Volta Region working in Kumasi is an example for many" Archbishop Sarpong said.

"At the social level, Ewe Catholics I know in Kumasi appreciate friendship and sociability and are genuinely sad when false reports go from Kumasi about how the Asante are maltreating the Ewe", Archbishop Sarpong said. "We can go on. But suffice it to thank God that in Bishop Francis Kofi Nani Lodonu, he has endowed the Church with a precious gift of an indefatigable servant", Archbishop Sarpong said. 04 Nov 06