Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
REPRESENTATIVES of the Zimbabwean Catholic Priests and Seminaries studying in Rome have expressed their appreciation of the engagement between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican this Saturday.
The meeting between President Mnangagwa and the Pope was described as significant for the Catholic community, given the Church’s global following of over one billion people and its strong presence in Zimbabwe, where cooperation between the Church and Government remains longstanding.
There are close to 30 Zimbabwean Priests and Seminarians in Rome and this Sunday, their representatives paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa.
Father Innocent Chambara, accompanied by seminarians Newton Kabeta and Hopewell Shonhe, held discussions with the President, during which they highlighted the Catholic Church’s role in strengthening Zimbabwe’s education and health sectors.
Father Chambara further emphasised the importance of the Church in promoting peace at both regional and global levels.
“Some parts of Africa like the Democratic Republic of Congo are in turmoil. On the international scene, the conflict between Israel and Palestine also continues to escalate with people constantly getting killed in the war. The church is very important because it preaches the message of peace, because even when Christ came, he was preaching a message of peace. Therefore, the priests, the ministers, when they are preaching peace, it means the followers are able to get the message and spread it,” he said.
The church and the government of Zimbabwe continue to collaborate in nation building and improvement of people’s livelihoods countrywide.
