Malawi’s President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, met Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City on Monday, focusing on strengthening the ties between Malawi and the Holy See. The discussion highlighted the historical connection between the two states and their shared background in theology, both leaders having transitioned from church leadership to their current roles as heads of state.
President Chakwera expressed his deep appreciation for the opportunity to meet Pope Francis, emphasizing that he was there not only as the representative of Malawi’s citizens, many of whom are Catholics but also as someone eager to learn more about leadership rooted in service to the people. He praised the Pope for his global leadership, particularly in addressing climate change and economic inequality, and advocated for stronger cooperation between Malawi and the Vatican.
During the meeting, President Chakwera also shared his condolences with Pope Francis over the recent death of Malawi’s former Vice President, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, who died in a plane crash on June 10th. Chakwera described Dr. Chilima as a devout Catholic who inspired many Malawians and thanked the Pope for the role the Episcopal Conference of Malawi played in guiding the nation through its grief.
Pope Francis, in turn, expressed his pleasure at meeting President Chakwera and offered his blessing to the people of Malawi. He also directed the Vatican’s Secretary of State to meet with President Chakwera to explore further ways to strengthen the relationship between Malawi and the Vatican. Before leaving, the President was given a private tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he prayed for the future of Malawi-Vatican relations.
