Pastoral Agents in Mozambican Archdiocese Urged to Foster Synodality, “closeness, courage, real presence”

Aboard the papal plane, 25 June, 2025 / 3:16 PM

Archbishop João Carlos Hatoa Nunes of Mozambique’s Catholic Archdiocese of Maputo has called upon pastoral agents in his Metropolitan See to resist the temptation to work in isolation and instead commit to walking together in faith, service, and communion.

Addressing pastoral agents during their second annual meeting on June 21, Archbishop Nunes underscored the importance of putting into practice the theme of the multi-year Synod on Synodality, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.”

“Don’t do things alone. Walk as a Church. I prefer that we make mistakes together rather than succeed in isolation,” Archbishop Nunes said at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Maputo Archdiocese.

According to the Mozambican Catholic Archbishop, a people of God that acknowledges respective weakness but remains united is stronger and more faithful to the Gospel.

“To fail as a group means to fail with support, learning, and reconciliation. But when we act in isolation, failure becomes solitary and destructive,” he said.

Reflecting on the importance of collaborative ministry, Archbishop Nunes emphasized that pastoral teamwork must go beyond slogans and become a lived reality.

“Pastoral collaboration is not just a motto—it must be a practice,” the Catholic Church leader said.

He described synodality as a shared journey marked by attentive listening, mutual support, and a common mission. 

“Synodality is not an event, but a vital movement of disciples walking together, aware of their shared destiny,” the Local Ordinary of Maputo said.

For him, synodal gatherings must lead to concrete action, not just discussion. “These meetings should not be formalities but meaningful moments of missionary conversion,” Archbishop Nunes said.

According to the 57-year-old Catholic Archbishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry in July 2011 as Auxiliary Bishop of Maputo Archdiocese, pastoral workers must be close to the communities they serve, pastoral workers must be close to the communities they serve.

“We can only be good servants if we are humble and willing to know the reality in which we live. Pastoral service demands closeness, courage, and a real presence,” he said.

The Local Ordinary of Maputo Archdiocese, who doubles as Vice President of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM) warned against the tendency to turn Pastoral Councils into places of complaint rather than collaboration.

“That doesn’t work. When councils become spaces to vent, it shows an urgent need to rediscover true communion—one that builds, heals, and transforms,” he said.

As the Archdiocese of Maputo expands from 30 to 54 Parishes, Archbishop Nunes said that structural growth must go hand-in-hand with deepening community life.

“We are building Deaneries and Councils not as ends in themselves, but as instruments of presence. Decentralization only works if it empowers every community to live in communion and shared responsibility,” the Catholic Archbishop said.

Meanwhile, in his June 22 Corpus Christi homily, Archbishop Nunes urged Mozambicans to reaffirm their commitment to justice, reconciliation, and unity ahead of the Jubilee of the country’s independence.

“We are just three days away from the 50th anniversary of our Independence. Whether we view it through joy or pain, it remains a historic milestone. It is not only a time for remembrance but also a call to recommit ourselves to the future of this nation,” the Catholic Church leader said.

He called upon Mozambicans to reflect on the nation's journey and to become agents of peace and fraternity. “This Jubilee must be lived through the lens of the Eucharist. It’s a sacred time to renew our determination to build a more just, reconciled, and fraternal society,” Archbishop Nunes said.

He continued, “We are called to be witnesses of unity, peace, and hope. True reconciliation begins with the conversion of the heart and is expressed through acts of justice, forgiveness, and solidarity.”