Maravi

Listen more to people,Girasoli urges leaders

Listen more to people,Girasoli urges leaders
By Zumani Katasefa
Tuesday May 01, 2007 [04:00]


VATICAN ambassador to Zambia, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Nichola Girasoli, has advised political leaders to listen more to the people. Archbishop Girasoli said the Catholic Church was also concerned about the issue surrounding the enactment of a new constitution, adding that the Church was there to contribute to the national issues.

"We are here to contribute to national issues, we are here to help solve problems. Political leaders should listen more to the people. We are concerned about that," said Archbishop Girasoli when he was asked to comment on the enactment of the national constitution by a concerned resident during an answer and question session when he officiated at a fundraising braii organised by St Anthony Catholic Church held at Zamefa Sports Club on Sunday.

Archbishop Girasoli also said the Catholic Church would continue praying for the excommunicated former Lusaka Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo.
He, however, said that it was unfortunate that Archbishop Milingo had disobeyed the teachings of the Catholic Church as well as the Pope.

"The Roman Catholic Church is Holy. Therefore, we have only one leader who is the Pope and we have to obey and respect him to maintain the of the church. Of course, as the church we are praying for Milingo,” he said.
He said it was unfortunate that Archbishop Milingo chose to disobey the Catholic Church.

“He is not a Catholic; he chose to disobey the Pope. He might come back, but unfortunately he is not anymore Catholic. We can continue to pray for him,” he said.
Archbishop Girasoli regretted the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Zambia and said that the Catholic Church was doing its best to effectively contribute towards the fight against the disease.

He said more preventive measures should be put in place against the spread of the disease.

Archbishop Girasoli said HIV/AIDS was not a sin, but was just a sickness like any other disease.

“HIV/AIDS is not a sin, it is just a sickness, therefore we as a church are helping very much preventive programmes so that we can reduce on the increase of the pandemic,” he said.

He donated K1 million to the women’s league of St. Anthony Catholic Church for some building projects.

Speaking at the same occasion, Ndola Catholic diocese bishop Noel O’regan called for unity among Christians.

He said unity and togetherness were very cardinal in the church and the community at large.

Archbishop Girasoli and Bishop O’regan earlier attended mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church and had lunch at St. William Catholic Church in Luanshya’s Walale shanty compound before officiating at the fundraising braii late in the afternoon at Zamefa sports club.

Labels: GOVERNANCE

posted by MrK @ 3:16 AM