ZAMBIA: H.E. Medardo CARDINAL Joseph Mazombwe Pass Away

The
Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka and the Zambia Episcopal Conference regret to announce the death of His Eminence Medardo
CARDINAL Joseph Mazombwe, the Archbishop Emeritus of Lusaka Archdiocese.

His
Eminence, Cardinal Mazombwe passed away in Lusaka’s University Teaching
Hospital (UTH) on Thursday, 29 August 2013 at around 17.40 hours Zambian time.

Brief PROFILE of Medardo CARDINAL Joseph Mazombwe

Zambia‘s first indigenous Cardinal

H.E Medardo Cardinal Mazombwe

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

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

Cardinal
Mazombwe has held several senior positions in the local and regional Church,
such as Zambia Episcopal President (1972 – 1975; 1988 – 1990 and 1999 – 2002);
and as Chairman of the regional conferences of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa
(A.M.E.C.E.A.)
(1979 – 1986).

In
the months leading to the year 2000, Cardinal Mazombwe, as Archbishop of
Lusaka, was an ardent campaigner for the cancellation of Zambia’s international
debt, in the Jubilee 2000 movement. Most visible among some of his numerous pastoral
initiatives, is the sprawling Cathedral of the Child Jesus (Pope Square) in
Lusaka.

Cardinal
Mazombwe’s optimism and courage in the face of Cancer inspired many that
visited him in the last twelve months. Even as he grew weak, Cardinal Mazombwe
never gave up his passion for the affairs of the Church and the nation.

Other
funeral details will be communicated in due course.

MHSRIP.

Fr. Paul Samasumo 29
August 2013
ZEC
Spokesperson

HIS
EMINENCE MEDARDO CARDINAL JOSEPH MAZOMBWE

1931
– 2013

30 August 2013, Friday: Mourners
gather at Cathedral of the Child Jesus, Pope Square

Lusaka

19.00
hours: Mass at the Cathedral of the Child
Jesus

________________________________________________________________

31 August 2013 Saturday:

19.00
hours: Mass
at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus

____________________________________________________________________

1 September 2013 Sunday:

Morning: Mass in various parishes

19.00
hours: Prayers, Vespers, Rosary at the Cathedral of
the Child Jesus

_____________________________________________________________________

2 September 2013 Monday:
14:30
hours onwards:         Body lies in State at the Cathedral of the
Child Jesus
19:00
hours:                     Vigil Mass; Body lies in Church over night;
Body
                                         Viewing
at Cathedral of the Child Jesus

______________________________________________________________________

3 September 2013 Tuesday
09:00
hours: Requiem Mass at the Cathedral of the Child
Jesus

Burial at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus

(N.B. There will be no body viewing after the Requiem Mass)

_____________________________________________________________________

For more
information contact:

Fr. Albertus
Chitoshi, Cathedral Administrator: +260-977-403064

Fr. Paul
Samasumo, ZEC Spokesperson:
+260-977-865922
Fr. Cleophas
Lungu, ZEC Secretary General:
+260-968-808745
Catholic Secretariat: (+260) 211-262613 or
262641 Lusaka, Za