AFRICA/MALAWI - Bishops: "We must roll away the stones that are oppressing us"

Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) - "We order all our priests not to take sides or favour any candidate or political party. Any such action on the part of our priests using church structures for political purpose will not be tolerated," warn the Bishops of Malawi, six months before the parliamentary elections on September 16, in their Lenten pastoral letter "Who will roll away the stone for us?" (Mk 16:3).
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malawi (MCCB) uses the image of the Stone of the Holy Sepulchre to encourage the people of Malawi to take their lives into their own hands and roll away the many "stones" that "keep us in inhuman poverty and suffering". The various “stones” the bishops point out include: corruption, lack of seriousness of various politicians, high cost of living, food insecurity, unemployment, dependence on donor aid, social fragmentation. The bishops urge Malawians not to be discouraged but to act by first “raising awareness among citizens”. This “requires citizens, especially the poor and marginalized, to reflect and act on their socio-economic reality so that they can challenge the prevailing political and state structures and forms of governance that oppress them and keep them poor and hungry forever. The stone that keeps millions of Malawians in the grave of poverty and suffering will not be rolled away until citizens take a united stand and say: ‘We have had enough of lies, corruption, disease, hunger, bad roads, etc.’” the pastoral letter states. It is also necessary to fight the "laziness and idleness that are killing our nation" ("this is very true of many men who spend most of their time drinking beer instead of working so that they can look after their families") and to fight "do-it-yourself" justice, especially in rural areas that are completely abandoned by the State. The bishops recall cases of elderly women who were brutally murdered because they were accused of witchcraft. "Citizens themselves inflict a lot of suffering on each other. Besides the Government, traditional as well as religious leaders have a big task to address this very barbaric behaviour in our society," the bishops stress. "The Jubilee Year of Hope and the Easter Mystery of the Risen Christ reminds us that no obstacle is too great for God to remove.
As a nation, we must trust in God and work together to roll away the stones of poverty, corruption, and division. By electing capable leaders and taking responsibility for our actions, we can build a brighter future for Malawi," the bishops conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 11/3/2025)

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