By CISA
NDOLA, AUGUST 18, 2020 (CISA) – Rt. Rev. Dr. Benjamin Phiri has been installed as the sixth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ndola at an event held on August 15 at the Cathedral of the Christ the King in Ndola.
In his speech, Bishop Phiri promised to work closely with government leaders, the faithful and clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Ndola and seek counsel and guidance from his brother bishops.
“I would like to assure you that I come as your pastor and also your father. I will do my utmost to help you reach God. And I will do my best to ensure that you receive the graces from God. We will walk together for all those things which are for the common good, I assure you my support,” he said to the faithful of Ndola Diocese.
Addressing the clergy and religious of Ndola he said,“I can assure you that I do not come with an agenda and a pre conceived mind. I’m coming so that we can come together and work…as long as we are able to work as one, as a united clergy and religious, one church, one leadership, then I can assure you of my support.”
He cautioned political leaders against dragging the Church into politics noting that the role of the church is to unite.
“Don’t drag us the church into politics. Our job is to unite…but as long as we are able to cooperate in order to serve our people well then we are going to be partners,” he told them.
Bishop Phiri who had been serving as auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Chipata since 2011 succeeds Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda who was transferred to the Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka.
His installation was graced by H.E president Edgar Lungu, H. E the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi, Monsignor Gianfranco Gallone, all the Bishops of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), and hundreds of delegates from across Zambia.
