Pope Francis and I share common goals – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama says he and the newly elected Pope Francis share common goals.

Pope Francis was elected March 13, 2013 in the Vatican by 115 Cardinals to lead the over 1.5 billion Catholic church worldwide.

Pope Francis, an Argentine national, is noted for his fight against poverty and he stood for the protection of the poor.

President Mahama, in a congratulatory message March 14, 2013 said Pope Francis’s impressive work as a champion of the poor and the vulnerable inspires hope in millions of people around the world in these challenging and difficult times.

“I have noted we share common goals, including the need to fight against poverty, advance world peace and encourage respect for human dignity and interfaith dialogue for the betterment of humankind,” President Mahama wrote in his message to the Papacy.

President Mahama was confident that the existing relationship between Ghana and the Vatican will be further strengthened.

By Ekow Quandzie