Pope Francis elevates Ndola Catholic Bishop, Phiri, to Archbish

Pope Francis has established a new ecclesiastical province of Ndola and subsequently elevating Benjamin Phiri as Archbishop of Ndola Archdiocese.

Initiatially, only Lusaka and Kasama were archdioceses but with the elevation of Ndola into an Archdiocese, the number has risen to three signifying the growth of the Catholic faith in Zambia.

Appostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi Gian Luca Perici announced the development in a statement seen by the Zambia Monitor on Tuesday in Lusaka.

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The statement said the newly established Ecclesiastical Province of Ndola would have the Dioceses of Kabwe and Solwezi as suffragan Dioceses.

Commenting on the development, according to Radio Icengelo in Ndola, Archbishop Phiri said the elevation of Ndola to the Archdiocese status had come with increased responsibility to serve the people of God better.

“We are happy that this day is here and we have been honored to be elevated among the Dioceses to be one of the Metropolitan Sees.

“Now making three metropolitan Sees in Zambia. Lusaka, Kasama and now Ndola,” he said.

An Archdiocese or a Metropolitan See is a Diocese which the Pope elects and erects in order that it may have some jurisdiction over a number of other Dioceses which are called Suffragan Dioceses.

According to Catholic tradition, Archbishop Phiri will have to go to Rome to receive his Pallium, symbol of his elevation.

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