As the Church enters the sacred Season of Advent, Zimbabwe\u2019s Catholic Bishops\u2019 Conference (ZCBC) has released a Pastoral Statement titled \u201cAdvent Pastoral Message \u2013 Remember the Poor,\u201d in which it invites Zimbabweans to use the period as a time of national renewal, both social and spiritual. <\/p>\n
Sr Christine Masivo and Paul Samasumo \u2013 Vatican City.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s Advent season, which began on Sunday, 30 November, comes at a moment of deep reflection for the universal Church. The Catholic Bishops of Zimbabwe say that Advent is not simply the beginning of a new liturgical year in the Church\u2019s calendar. They described the Jubilee of Hope 2025 as a profound period of grace that should impact the lives of the faithful.<\/p>\n
The Bishops are particularly pleased that many people from Zimbabwe joined the millions of pilgrims from around the world who converged on the city of Rome, seeking renewal through prayers, pilgrimages to holy sites, and passing through the Holy Door of the Basilica of Saint Peter and other basilicas in Rome.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The poor are our friends, neighbours <\/p>\n
The Bishops warn the faithful against viewing the poor as a problem or a burden in their midst.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ \u2014 born in poverty and simplicity \u2014 our thoughts naturally turn to the poor. Their cry is a painful reality we cannot ignore: \u2026 \u2018On the wounded faces of the poor, we see the suffering of the innocent and the suffering of Christ Himself,\u2019\u201d the Bishops write. They continue, \u201cThe poor are never a burden to be managed nor a problem to be ignored. They are part of our family \u2014 our mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, neighbours and friends. A nation\u2019s moral and spiritual health is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members. In this regard, we still have work to do,\u201d say the ZCBC prelates.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Responsible stewardship <\/p>\n
The message of the Bishops further expresses concerns about the plight of ordinary Zimbabweans and how they are treated and exploited for their labour.<\/p>\n
ZCBC voice concern over the widespread displacement of villagers from ancestral lands to make way for investors.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the environment, the Bishops caution against the indiscriminate exploitation and destruction of the country\u2019s natural resources, which has led to communities losing homes, livelihoods, and productive land. Zimbabwe\u2019s gold, platinum, and diamond mining are a significant part of the country\u2019s export earnings. The Bishop\u2019s Pastoral Statement is therefore a plea for safeguards to protect vulnerable local communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrue development cannot arise from the ruin of ecosystems or the suffering of communities displaced by extractive industries. Ecological conversion must begin with the recognition that everything is interconnected: the well-being of people, the health of the environment, and the moral fabric of society. We therefore call for a renewed national commitment to responsible stewardship \u2014 where economic progress goes hand in hand with environmental protection, and where the needs of the poor are placed above the pursuit of profit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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