Vatican causes confusion among priests in Blantyre Archdiocese
Vatican’s appointment of Archbishop Tarcizio Ziyaye as archbishop of Lilongwe Archdiocese without immediate replacement has brought confusion among priests in Blantyre as they are in dilemma whether to mention him in the Eucharistic prayer as required.
During the celebration of the Holy Mass priests pray for the Pope and Bishop of their diocese and they mention the names.
“We pray for our Pope, Pope Francis and our Bishop …..” goes the prayer.
But priests in the Blantyre Archdiocese are divided with some mentioning Ziyaye while others do not arguing the moment his name was mentioned as archbishop for Lilongwe, he ceased to belong to Blantyre according to the Canon.
“What should have happened was for Vatican to also announce his successor immediately so that there is no vacuum. But as it is, with his presence in Blantyre we don’t know whether to mention his name during the Eucharistic prayer. Some colleagues stopped mentioning them and when he heard, he reprimanded them,” said one priest.
But, said the priest, canonically, he no longer belongs to Blantyre and the priests are justified not to mention his name.
Observation from several parishes is that many priests have stopped mentioning his name and the priests simply say “we pray for our bushops” including Auxiliary Bishop Montfort Stima.
Meanwhile, Ziyaye bade farewell on Sunday at Limbe Cathedral.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
