MALAWI: Ad Limina Visit for ECM Coincides With Pope Francis’ Hospitalization
Archbishop Tambala at the 2023 Chrism Rite in Lilongwe
Sam Kalimba
The President of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Most Rev. George Desmond Tambala says that the 2023 Ad Limina visit has coincided with Pope Francis’ hospitalization and hence the members of the Conference failed to physically meet the Pope.
Archbishop Tambala was speaking at the close of the 2023 Chrism Mass on 4 April at the Our Lady of Africa – Maula Cathedral in Lilongwe a day after his arrival from Rome. He further called on all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe to pray for Pope Francis’ continued good health.
“Let us all pray for Pope Francis’ good health. As you are aware that we went for our Ad Limina in Rome, be assured that it was a successful itinerary. We met all key offices and departments and the heads of these offices send their best wishes and encouragement to all Catholics in the country. We failed to meet the Pope because he was discharged from hospital on the very scheduled day for our meeting,” said Archbishop Tambala.
According to a press statement signed by the Secretary General of the ECM, Very Rev. Fr. Alfred Chaima, the members of the conference left the country on 27th March, 2023 and were expected back on 3rd April, 2023. The statement further said that the Bishops were expected to present to the Holy Father, a quinquennial report of the status of the local Church in their respective dioceses.
According to briefs monitored on the ECM’s Facebook Page, the first day of the visit began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at St Peter’s Tomb presided over by His Grace George Desmond Tambala and concelebrated by all the bishops from Malawi and priests from Malawi studying in Rome. Thereafter, the bishops visited the Dicastery responsible for Catholic Education, Dicastery for the causes of Saints and Pontifical Council for Social Communications.
On day two of their visit the bishops visited and held talks with officials at the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Family and Life; the Dicastery for Institutes for Consecrated Life and the Secretary of State at the Vatican. On Day three they held meetings with the Pontifical Council for promoting Integral Human Development and CARITAS Internationalis. On day four they visited the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith, and Dicastery for Evangelization (Pontifical Missionary Societies – PMS Offices). On day five they had an opportunity to hold discussions with officials at the Dicastery for the Clergy.
Pope Francis was admitted on Wednesday, 29 March 2023 at the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome for a respiratory infection and was discharged on Saturday, 1 April 2023.
