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Malawi’s Catholic Bishops Designate Solemnity of Christ the King Thanksgiving Day after Peaceful Elections

Members of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB). Credit: MCCB
Nicholas Waigwa

By Nicholas Waigwa

Blantyre, 23 November, 2025 / 11:34 am (ACI Africa).

Malawi’s Catholic Bishops have called for turning to God in gratitude following peaceful general elections in the Southern African nation on September 16.

In a circular shared on Friday, November 21, members of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) designate Sunday, November 23, the Solemnity of Christ the King, as the Thanksgiving Day, describing the polls as an outcome of “God’s gracious response to fervent prayers for peaceful elections.”

“We prayed fervently as a Church in Malawi for peaceful elections. Indeed, God graciously answered our prayer,” MCCB members say in their circular, referring to the general elections during the electorate in Malawi voted a President, Members of Parliament (MPs), and local Councilors across 35 local governments.

In the circular, they designated the Solemnity of Christ the King 2025 “as a moment for the entire Church in Malawi to thank God for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections.”

They call upon Priests to “dedicate an appropriate moment during the Holy Mass on that day to offering thanksgiving to God.”

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“You may also include specific intercessions related to this intention in the Prayers of the Faithful,” the November 14 circular addressed to the Clergy ministering in Malawi and signed by the MCCB Secretary General, Fr. Valerino Mtseka, reads in part.

On September 23, Catholic Bishops in Malawi congratulated President Arthur Peter Mutharika, following his victory, and lauded the outgoing former Head of State, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, for “conceding defeat and reaffirming Malawi's enduring democratic character.”

“We rejoice in our ability to transition peacefully from one government to the next,” the Catholic Church leaders said in their September 25 statement in which they also urged the people of God in the country to transition from the campaign season to service delivery.

They also clarified that neither the Catholic Church nor the MCCB is aligned with any political party, saying, “The Church's teachings remain unchanged. As Catholic Bishops, we look forward to working with the elected leadership to advance the common good.”

Meanwhile, in their November 14 circular, MCCB members have lauded members of the Clergy for their “continued pastoral dedication and for the tireless service” to the people of God.

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In the circular, Malawi’s Catholic Bishops entrust the country and her leadership “to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, and to the paternal protection of Saint Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church and Guardian of Families.”

Nicholas Waigwa

Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.

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