“Extraordinary moment”: Vatican Cardinal Lauds Sub-Region Conference of Catholic Bishops in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe

In a collective statement issued at the conclusion of their three-day maiden consultative meeting, the Catholic Bishops outlined their short-term intention to remain within their respective regional Bishops’ Conferences and the long-term one of delinking their national Conferences to form a sub-regional Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

“The project envisions that in the short-term, Malawi and Zambia will continue to belong to the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and Zimbabwe to the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) respectively. However, in the long-term, the sub-region will be delinked from AMECEA and IMBISA respectively,” the Catholic Bishops indicated in their 5 February 2020 statement following their three-day maiden consultative  meeting in Zambia.

They also indicated that they would “inform AMECEA and IMBISA about the intention of the three Episcopal Conferences to form a sub-regional conference while continuing to belong to AMECEA and IMBISA respectively.”

In his goodwill message, Cardinal Tagle expressed his awareness of the February 2020 meeting. He said, “The new insights emerging from this second meeting would gear you up to make positive changes in the pastoral animation of your various Dioceses.”

The latest meeting of the members of ECM, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), and the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) continues the objective of the inaugural February 2020 meeting, namely, to “provide a platform for Bishops to come together, fostering unity among different regions and promoting collaboration on common issues.”

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Organized under the theme; “Building Bridges, Strengthening Faith, Unity and Service”, the meeting also focuses on enhancing the skills and knowledge of Bishops in pastoral leadership.

Participants in the Sub-Region Conference meeting are also to deliberate on various challenges bedevilling the people of God in the African region, including inequality, and concerns around the environment. 

In his good will message, Cardinal Tagle reflected on the theme of the five-day meeting, saying “Building bridges in our church through the ecclesiastical leadership would require all of us by collective efforts to identify our capacities, get the required knowledge and required skills and present ourselves for those opportunities to build our beloved Church and promote peace and unity in our society.”

The 66-year-old Filipino Cardinal, who started his Episcopal Ministry in December 2001 as the Bishop of Imus Catholic Diocese in the Philippines said he finds it regrettable that the Gospel message of building bridges has not yet reached many parts of the world.

He called upon the Catholic Bishops in the Sub-Region Conference to work towards having the Good News of building bridges spreads everywhere, adding that this will promote an inclusive and systematic region of “a sustainable society that equally addresses social, economic, and environmental issues.”

“The Bishops’ sub-region conference is big enough for all to participate and contribute to building a just, united, and participatory society where all citizens would experience life in dignity, and together with the help from the almighty, we will create the bridge to last,” he said.

The Catholic Church leader, who was elevated Cardinal in November 2012 urged his Bishop colleagues to collaborate with all pastoral agents in the region.

In his speech to welcome participants in the Sub-Region Conference meeting on July 16, Bishop Montfort Stima of Malawi’s Catholic Diocese of Mangochi said, “The Bishops of the sub-region conferences serve as a vital platform for us to engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange ideas, and discern the course for the future of our faith community.”

Bishop Stima said that the coming together of Catholic Bishops in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is an opportunity for them to reflect on their shared values and address the challenges that the people of God under their pastoral care face. 

The Malawian Catholic Bishop, who serves as ECM Vice President underlined the need to embrace diversity of perspectives, experiences, and traditions that each participant brings to the table during the deliberations as a way of fostering unity.

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“It is through this diversity that we can learn from one another, broaden our understanding, and strengthen the fabric of our faith community,” Bishop Stima said at the opening ceremony that had Malawi’s President, Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, in attendance.

He encouraged active participation in the discussions and the sharing of insights and added, “We can work towards a common goal, support one another in our respective ministries, and foster a sense of mutual trust that transcends boundaries.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.