Ghanaian cardinal, known for dedication to poor, dies at age 89
Mar 10, 2008
Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Poreku Dery, known for his pastoral dedication and concern for the poor, died March 6. He was 89.
VATICAN CITY (CNS, Mar-10-2008) -- Pope Benedict XVI, in a condolence telegram, praised the late cardinal for his many years of generous ministry.
"This devoted pastor has left behind a shining legacy of prayer, humble obedience to the will of God and love of neighbor," the pope said.
He paid tribute to the cardinal for "preaching the Gospel in difficult conditions with the love of a father, great zeal and simplicity of heart, constantly attentive to the needs of the poor."
In 2006, Pope Benedict named him a cardinal in recognition of his lifetime of service to the church in the West African country of Ghana.
Cardinal Dery was the oldest of the cardinals inducted in the 2006 consistory. In a poignant moment, he was carried in a wheelchair up the stairs of St. Peter's Square to receive his red hat from the pope.
The cardinal was known in Ghana for encouraging and supporting young people to pursue education, showing personal concern for students and their talents.
Ghanaian Archbishop Charles G. Palmer-Buckle of Accra said in a 2006 interview that Cardinal Dery "would go to universities to visit the people he was sponsoring, bringing letters and food from their families and taking an individual interest in each one."
Because of the cardinal's inspiration, many of the Ghanaian doctors whose education he sponsored remained in the country instead of following more lucrative careers overseas, the archbishop said.
Peter Poreku Dery was born in Ko, Ghana, May 10, 1918, and was baptized Dec. 25, 1932. He was ordained Feb. 11, 1951.
After he became the bishop of Wa in 1960, he helped promote development -- including the building of schools and seminaries -- in the upper western region of the country.
He continued this work in the northern provincial capital of Tamale when he became its bishop in 1974 and its archbishop three years later. The arid northern region covers 31 percent of Ghana, but is home to only 2 million of the country's 19 million people.
Cardinal Dery was president of the Ghanaian bishops' conference 1982-88. He retired as archbishop of Tamale in 1994.
His death leaves the College of Cardinals with 198 members. Of that number, 119 are under age 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave.
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Contributing to this story was Bronwen Dachs in Cape Town, South Africa.
Ghanaian cardinal, known for dedication to poor, dies at age 89