{Throwback} When Otumfuo Immortalized a Visit to Pope Francis
The Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, took a memorable journey to Rome exactly 10 years ago on a visit to the late Pope Francis.
The colourful encounter saw the two eminent leaders immortalizing the meeting with the exchange of gifts and strengthening their bond.
This was on the back of a shared respect and close alliance between the Manhyia Palace and the Vatican.
The visit by the Asantehene, accompanied by his family and some Paramount and Sub Asante chiefs reciprocated Pope John Paul II’s visit to Otumfuo Opoku Ware II in 1980.
The historic meeting saw the Asantehene and the Pontiff engage in a discussion of a series of key international issues.
The two powerful men reportedly talked at length about issues of world peace, Africa, religion and tradition, among others.
This visit was capped with the exchange of symbolic yet priceless gifts from the two leaders to make the memory of the visit a long-lasting one.
His Majesty gave the Pope an Asante traditional cloth with an embroidery of the emblems of Asante and the Vatican.
The King also gave His Holiness an Asante Regalia magazine, according to Rome Reports.
The Bishop of Rome for his part gifted the Monarch a copy of the Evangelii gaudium and a medallion of his pontificate.
Death
The Bishop of Rome died at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta after battling Pneumonia on Monday, April 21, 2025
The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from bronchitis for several days.
Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.
After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
