Catholic Church in Malawi celebrates 125 years of evangelization

Paul Samasumo – Vatican City

Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu as the Holy See's Special Delegate to convey his papal blessings and preside over the 125th anniversary celebration of the permanent establishment of the Catholic Church in Malawi.

Joyous celebration

Archbishop Nwachukwu, was warmly welcomed to Malawi by Malawi’s Bishops, priests, religious men and women and the laity. Also on hand to to welcome Archbishop Nwachukwu was Archbishop Gian Luca Perici, the Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia.

The anniversary is being commemorated under the theme: “Rooted in Christ, Sent for Mission: Celebrating 125 Years of Evangelisation in Malawi.”

Representatives welcome Archbishop Nwachukwu {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "ImageObject","contentUrl": "https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/multimedia/2026/settembre/18/fortunatus-malawiaem.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg","creditText": "Vatican News","height": "750","width": "422"} Beginnings

The Missionaries of Africa, widely known as the White Fathers, evangelised the territory. The congregation says that for Catholics in Malawi, the 125-year jubilee celebrates the Church’s growth and continued witness.

The anniversary traces its roots to 1901, when the Missionaries of Africa began their work in the country, laying the foundation for what would become one of Africa’s most vibrant Catholic communities.