By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, is seen in this 2011 file photo. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)
A top Vatican official and advisor to Pope Francis will be the main speaker at the Red Mass Jan. 15 in the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu. The annual liturgy corresponds with the opening of the State Legislature which convenes on Jan. 16.
Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, will speak on issues addressed by his dicastery (Vatican department) such as climate change, labor and education in light of Catholic social teaching.
The term “integral human development” refers to the principles of Catholic social teaching that foster the dignity of each human person, equality among all people, and the common good of all.
The description of Cardinal Turkson’s Red Mass address included in the event’s invitation states, “The Catholic Church has a mission of accompanying humanity in all its endeavors, of bringing the message of the Gospel to politics, business, work, education, science and other activities. It is the church’s obligation to assure that the voice of the poor and vulnerable is heard in all of human striving.”
Bishop Larry Silva will preside at the 9 a.m. Mass, which is the church’s annual prayer to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance for Hawaii’s public servants. The Mass is open to the public.
Born in 1948 in Ghana, Cardinal Turkson studied theology in New York and was ordained a priest in 1975. He did graduate studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Cape Coast in 1992 and named him a cardinal in 2003.
The cardinal was president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference from 1997 to 2005, and since 2003 has been chancellor of the Catholic University College of Ghana. He served as general relator during the II Synod of Bishops for Africa in October 2009.
At the end of the synod, Pope Benedict XVI named Cardinal Turkson as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Pope Francis reconfirmed him in that position in 2013.
When Pope Francis created the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in 2016, he named Cardinal Turkson as the new department’s first prefect, or director.
A 700-year-old tradition in Europe, the Red Mass was introduced in the United States early last century and has become an annual event in Washington, D.C., and other major mainland cities. It has been celebrated in Hawaii since 1955, scheduled during the week of the opening of the State Legislature.
The Mass is named for the color of the vestments used for a Mass of the Holy Spirit. Invitations were sent to members of Hawaii’s state and city executive, legislative and judicial branches and other civic and religious leaders.
