ZAMBIA: Pallium, a Sign of Bishop’s Authority and Service: Apostolic Nuncio to Archbishop Phiri
Archbishop Benjamin Phiri
Sandra Kunda
During the thanksgiving mass and pallium investiture in Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi His Excellency Gian Luca Perici has reminded Archbishop Benjamin Phiri of Jesus’ instruction to the apostles that the authority of a bishop is at the service of the Church to which Most Rev. Phiri concurred, adding that no one in the Church should feel special as all are the baptized are called to serve.
“Instead, Christians should remain humble, recognizing that it is by God’s grace that they are called to be available for service to His people,” said Archbishop Phiri during his homily.
Emphasizing submissiveness, Archbishop Phiri urged Christians to be God-fearing whenever they are called to serve, further challenging them to use their talents to serve God wholeheartedly so that their goodness can be recognized.
Archbishop Phiri encouraged Christians to reflect on how well they are serving God and avoid prioritizing material things, which will be left behind when one dies.
Encouraging Christians on the importance of humility, Archbishop Phiri called on them to avoid fighting with fellow Christians when given a position in the church to achieve greatness. “A title does not guarantee closeness to God; therefore, let us be people of justice who wish well for each other and the larger community because that is where God resides,” the metropolitan bishop stated.
Archbishop Phiri also thanked and recognized the efforts and selflessness exhibited by the bishops from the two suffragan dioceses of the new ecclesiastical province in the journey toward the elevation of Ndola to the status of Archdiocese.
“The Bishops knew they were not the ones who shall put on the Pallium, but they offered support selflessly,” Archbishop Phiri shared.
The Apostolic Nuncio noted that the pallium invested on Archbishop Phiri today will, among other things, remind him of Jesus’ reinstatement of St. Peter as the leader of the Church.
“May Jesus encourage you as a bishop so that you may lead everyone to Christ with love,” Archbishop Perici said. The Apostolic Nuncio further noted the significance of the pallium and the responsibilities it entails.
Speaking at the same event, the Archbishop of Kasama, His Grace Ignatius Chama, who is also the president of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), said the elevation of Ndola Diocese to Archdiocese is a sign that the church is growing. However, growth comes with a huge responsibility. Therefore, it calls for support from everyone in the ecclesiastical province.
Archbishop Chama said that, as this is an ecclesiastical province with two suffragan dioceses, Archbishop Phiri will not run out of wisdom.
His Grace has since expressed gratitude to the Holy Father for this elevation.
The Archbishop of Lilongwe Most Rev. George Tambala who graced the occasion, congratulated Archbishop Phiri on his historic achievement of becoming the first Archbishop of the new Archdiocese of Ndola.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Phiri’s family representative, former Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, congratulated His Grace on becoming the first archbishop of Ndola and called on the Catholics and the clergy to be supportive and avoid unnecessary Gossip.
ENDS…
