Zimpapers Logo

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter 

CATHOLICS in Zimbabwe yesterday joined the rest of the world in marking the annual Pope’s Day.

Bishops from all the country’s dioceses converged at St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Bulawayo for the celebrations.

Pope’s Day marks the day the world head of the Catholic Church was elected into office.

The 266th Pope of the Catholic Church was elected on March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in December 1936, is the first Jesuit (Society of Jesus) to become a Pope and he chose the papal name of Francis in honour of St Francis of Assisi.

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo Alex Thomas, as the co host, was the main celebrant at the Pope’s mass while the acting Papal Nuncio to Zimbabwe Father Gabriele Pesce was co-celebrating.

Addressing congregants during the main mass, Fr Pesce said the Pope has been inspired to show the people of God unity and lead a united church.

“The Catholic Church is going through a desert of many trials and it’s the hope of the Pope to lead the church through these trials,” said Fr Pesce.

In a message for Lent 2019 read on his behalf throughout the world, the Pope reflected on the redemption of creation, the destructive power of sin and the healing power of repentance and forgiveness .

“Each year, God gives us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed, as we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ.

“We can thus journey from Easter to Easter towards the fulfilment of the salvation we have already received as a result of Christ’s paschal mystery, for in hope we were saved. This mystery of salvation, already at work in us during our earthly lives, is a dynamic process that also embraces history and all of creation,” said the Pope.

 He said when people fail to live as children of God, they often behave in a destructive way towards their neighbours and themselves.

“The root of evil, as we know, is sin, which from its first appearance has disrupted our communion with God, with others and with creation itself, to which we’re linked in a particular way by our body.

“Once God’s law, the law of love is forsaken, then the law of the weak takes over. The sin that lurks in the human heart takes the shape of greed and unbridled pursuit of comfort, lack of concern for the good of others and even of oneself,” said the Pope.

The Pope urged the congregants not to allow the season of grace to pass in vain but leave behind selfishness and turn to God and stand beside other people in need.—@pamelashumba1