Pope Francis Appoints Auxiliary Bishop for Lilongwe Archdiocese in Malawi

Lilongwe, 15 November, 2023 / 9:05 PM

Pope Francis has appointed Mons. Vincent Frederick Mwakhwawa the Auxiliary Bishop for the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe in Malawi.  

The appointment of Mons. Mwakhwawa, the Vicar General of Lilongwe and the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) was published by the Holy See Press Office on Wednesday, November 15.

Mons. Mwakhwawa has been assigned the Titular See of  Aquae Thibilitanae.  

Born in November 1975, the Bishop-elect was ordained a Priest for Lilongwe Archdiocese in July 2003 after completing his philosophical and theological studies at St. Anthony’s Seminary in Kachebere and St. Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba, respectively.

As a Priest, Mons. Mwakhwawa has served in various capacities, including Parish Priest, Secretary to the Bishop, Chaplain of the National Catholic Laity, and a member of the College of Consultors.

The Bishop-elect holds a master’s degree in pastoral theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Once he is Consecrated Bishop, Mons. Mwakhwawa will assist 55-year-old Archbishop George Desmond Tambala who has been at the helm of the Malawian Archdiocese since November 2021.

Catholic Bishops in Malawi have expressed joy following the news of the appointment.

“We join the Archdiocese of Lilongwe and indeed the entire Catholic Church in Malawi in congratulating the Bishop-elect for this appointment. We have all the reasons to celebrate God’s goodness and care for us,” members of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) say in a statement.

The Bishops add, “We pray that he may be blessed with wisdom, strength, and grace as he takes on this important role in the Archdiocese.”