President H.E Micheal Chilufya Sata griefs as he mourn His Eminence Cardinal Bishop Joseph Medardo Mazombwe. President Michael Sata has learnt with profound sorrow and regret, the passing of Medardo Cardinal Joseph Mazombwe in Lusaka’s University Teaching Hospital (UTH) on Thursday, August 29, 2013. President Sata described the death of the Archbishop Emeritus of Lusaka Archdiocese and Zambia’s first indigenous Cardinal, as a huge blow to the country and the Church. “I wish to express my deepest sympathy to the entire Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka, the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), his family and all those who knew and venerated His Eminence Medardo Cardinal Joseph Mazombwe both home and abroad,” the Head of State said. “I recall the late Cardinal as a courageous and enthusiastic revered cleric for many years, in particular as a young priest in the 1960s, as Bishop of Chipata Diocese in the 1970s and finally as the Archbishop of Lusaka until his retirement in 2006. Most visible among some of his numerous pastoral initiatives, is the magnificent Cathedral of the Child Jesus (Pope Square) in Lusaka.” The President said the late Cardinal Mazombwe’s passion and commitment to the nation and the poor is equally worth of praise. “In the months leading to the year 2000, Cardinal Mazombwe, as Archbishop of Lusaka then, was a fiery crusader for the cancellation of Zambia’s international debt, in the Jubilee 2000 movement,” President Sata said. “Clearly, all those who had contact with this great cleric can testify that his priestly zeal, authority and fidelity to the Gospel was appreciated by multitudes. I pray to the Almighty God to grant all Catholic faithful and the entire nation comfort and strength as we go through this tragic period.” Cardinal Mazombwe 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). Issued by: George Chellah Special Assistant To The President For Press And Public Relations Univer Open MHSRIP
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 06:46:15 +0000
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