Remembering Zambia’s Cardinal Medardo Joseph Mazombwe

The Church in Zambia recently held a series of Zoom sessions on the legacy of the country’s first indigenous Cardinal, Medardo Joseph Mazombwe who died on 29 August 2013.

English Africa Service – Vatican City & Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA - Nairobi

Officially launching the four-day virtual sessions, to discuss the life and ministry of Cardinal Mazombwe, Chipata Diocese Bishop, George Lungu who is also President of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) described Cardinal Mazombwe as a man of faith and humility.

“Cardinal Mazombwe was always among us in his humble way as one at our service … He was a man of conviction, a man of faith, a man of prayer,” said Bishop Lungu.

Voice of the voiceless

For his part, Mongu Diocese Bishop, Evans Chinyama Chinyemba, OMI, remembered the Cardinal who founded the Congregation of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Chipata Diocese, as a man of the people who vigorously campaigned for Zambia’s debt cancellation during the Jubilee 2000 movement. The Cardinal was a voice of the voiceless, emphasised Bishop Chinyemba.

Bishop Chinyemba said that the Cardinal stood firm to “speak against those stealing public resources meant to help the poor.”

A model for priests

The discussion on the life and ministry of Cardinal Mazombwe featured several priests, religious women, laity and family who spoke about how the Cardinal was an inspiration to many of them. They also hailed the Cardinal as a fitting example for priests because of his pastoral zeal.

The sessions were moderated by the Secretary-General of ZCCB, Fr. Cleophas Lungu.

Cardinal-Priest of Saint Emerenziana a Tor Fiorenza

Cardinal Mazombwe, a Cardinal-Priest of Saint Emerenziana a Tor Fiorenza, was born on 24 September 1931 at Katete in the Eastern Province of Zambia. He was ordained a priest on 4 September 1960 and become Bishop of Chipata Diocese on 7 February 1971. Between 1996 and 2006, he was the Archbishop of Lusaka until his retirement in 2006.

On 30 November 2010, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI created the Emeritus Archbishop of Lusaka, Medardo Joseph Mazombwe, as Zambia’s first indigenous Cardinal, at a consistory held in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican.

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