Metropolitan Archbishops from Africa Receive Palliums

Among the twenty four Archbishops who received palliums from the Holy Father, Pope Francis are five African Archbishops. These include Archbishops Gabriel 'Leke Abegunrin of the Archdiocese of Ibadan in Nigeria; Damian Denis Dallu of Songea in Tanzania; Emmanuel Obbo of Tororo in Uganda; Benjamin Balthason Ramaroson of Antsiranana of Madagascar and Thomas Luke Msusa of Blantyre in Malawi. The Archbishop of Lilongwe in Malawi, Most Rev. Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye (together with a couple of other Archbishops) was unable to attend the ceremony.

In his homily, the Holy Father Pope Francis called on the Archbishops to follow Christ without regard to difficulties and without fear.

After the ceremony, one of the recipients of the pallium, Most Rev. Thomas Luke Msusa of Blantyre in Malawi spoke to Vatican Radio of his being overwhelmed by being so close to the Holy Father at the ceremony and the weight of symbolism that carried.

“I felt so humbled to receive the pallium .. I felt that here I was united with the Holy Father and I felt, who am I to receive such a great honour?”

Archbishop Msusa sees his Metropolitan role as that of promoting unity. “My main role as Metropolitan is that of uniting the clergy, the religious and also the laity. We have four dioceses in the Southern region of Malawi namely, Mangochi, Chikwawa, Blantyre and Zomba. My role is to take up the challenge to deepen the faith in Jesus”.

Palliums are woolen bands placed over the shoulders of an Archbishop who is a Metropolitan. The pallium rests on  the shoulder of the Archbishop on the front chest and at the back.

There is no exact information on the origins of this tradition but already in the fourth century the use of the pallium by the Pope is mentioned. Those chosen as Metropolitans come to Rome to receive the pallium mostly on June 29, the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

Several neigbouring dioceses may be said to be headed by a Metropolitan Archbishop. The other Bishops are known as suffragan Bishops. The powers of a Metropolitan over other dioceses headed by an Ordinary are limited. The Metropolitan Archbishop is often given the pallium as a symbol of the power that, in communion with the Church of Rome, he holds. Not all Archbishops are Metropolitans. Archbishops who are not Metropolitans include Titular Archbishops such as many papal nuncios. In some cases an Archbishop of an Archdiocese may have no suffragan Bishops.