Let’s Not Ignore “child poverty”, Catholic Archbishop in Mozambique Appeals, Urges “serious investment” in Youths

Nampula, 04 June, 2025 / 8:20 PM

On the occasion of the International Children’s Day marked on  June 1, Archbishop Inácio Saúre of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nampula in Mozambique has cautioned against undermining poverty among children in the Southern African nation. 

In his homily during the annual commemoration that coincided with the Solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, Archbishop Saúre lamented that Angola continues to deny millions of children the right to dignity, education, and a good life and appealed for “serious investment” in young people. 

“Child poverty must not be ignored, even when it affects few, because every individual has the right to live with dignity of being created in the image and likeness of God,” the Mozambican Archbishop said during the Eucharistic celebration that was held at St. Paul Cathedral of his Metropolitan See.

He added, “We must look at our children with tenderness. Look at our youth with tenderness and make a serious investment.” 

According to the Archbishop of Nampula, “This investment is essential for their harmonious growth, without which they will never have a future worthy of the name.”

Despite some progress achieved in the country, Archbishop Saúre noted that many dreams of independence remain unfulfilled. 

“As a young man from a village, I came here to attend secondary school because, at the time of independence, there was no secondary school in my district. Five decades later, it is unjustifiable that 77% of children still live in extreme poverty,” the Catholic Church leader said.

The Mozambican-born member of the Consolata Missionaries (IMC), who started his Episcopal Ministry in May 2011 as Bishop of Mozambique’s Tete Diocese, further said, “It is a grave offense to the dignity of a people and a threat to its future,” to deny children their rights.

“There is an urgent need to implement effective public policies to eradicate child poverty, ensure quality basic education, access to healthcare, and comprehensive support for families,” Archbishop Saúre said.

He added, “We need a serious investment in the harmonious growth of our children. It is necessary for all sectors of society—Church, government, families, the international community—to commit to building an environment where children are truly valued.”

On a day that also marked the Jubilee of Families in his Metropolitan See, the Archbishop lauded the important role families play in shaping the nation. 

“We celebrate the jubilee of grandparents, the elderly, and our children—ultimately, the full beauty of the family,” he said, urging families to be “authentic homes of Christ’s joy and love.”

As Mozambique prepares to mark its independence anniversary on June 25, Archbishop Saúre remembered those who fought for liberation, praying for the land where the armed struggle against colonial rule began. 

“It is a special grace from God to remember this land, where the fight for our freedom started,” he said.

The Mozambican Catholic Archbishop expressed concern about ongoing violence, particularly the conflict in Cabo Delgado province, which has lasted eight years. 

“This land continues to bleed from a war with countless deaths and extensive destruction,” he noted.

He implored, “As we celebrate the Church’s Jubilee and the 50th anniversary of our nation, convert our hearts so we may reconcile with You and with one another—healing our society from deep wounds and inhumane inequalities.”

 “Let Christian hope be the foundation of a new social and political journey for Mozambique. Let us not resign ourselves to misery or violence, but become agents of social transformation guided by the Gospel,” Archbishop Saúre said.