“A Priest must be a man of hope,” Apostolic Nuncio in South Africa to Clergy
The Apostolic Nuncio in South Africa has urged Priests to become men of hope who proclaim Christ's message of mercy, reconciliation, and new life in a world marked by suffering and uncertainty.
Pretoria, 15 July, 2026 / 8:22 pm (ACI Africa). The Apostolic Nuncio in South Africa has urged Priests to become men of hope who proclaim Christ's message of mercy, reconciliation, and new life in a world marked by suffering and uncertainty. In his Tuesday,July 14, homilyat theCathedral of Christ the Kingin eMalahleni in theCatholic Diocese of Witbank, ArchbishopHenryk Mieczysław Jagodzińskisaid that Priests are called to be witnesses of Christian hope rooted in the death and resurrection of Christ. “A Priest must be a man of hope. He must believe that conversion is always possible, that forgiveness is always possible, that reconciliation is always possible, that a presbyterate can be renewed, that a Diocese can move forward with new enthusiasm, and that the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, always has a future,” Archbishop Jagodziński said during Holy Mass that was celebrated with BishopXolelo Thaddeus Kumaloand the members of Clergy of the Diocese of Witbank. “We are called to remind our people that darkness never has the last word. Sin does not have the last word. Failure does not have the last word. Suffering does not have the last word. Even death does not have the last word. Christ has the last word. His word is mercy. His word is hope. His word is life,” he said. The Apostolic Nuncio highlighted some of thechallengesSouth Africans are facing, such as unemployment, violence, and loneliness, underscoring the need for Priests to spread hope to the hopeless population. “The world today needs Priests of hope. Our people already have many reasons to be discouraged. They experience poverty, violence, unemployment, loneliness, and uncertainty about the future,’ he said. He noted that the people “do not need more pessimism from us. They need hope. Not a superficial optimism that ignores difficulties, but Christian hope rooted in the Death and Resurrection of Christ. ”Archbishop Jagodziński expressed gratitude to the Catholic Diocese of Witbank, saying, “I thank God for your Bishop. I thank God for each one of you. ”“I thank God for your vocations, your fidelity, your sacrifices, and for all the good that, through your ministry, is accomplished every day, often quietly and without recognition,” he said. The Polish -born Vatican diplomat urged the people not to lose hope when faced with challenges, encouraging them to remain faithful to Christ, who is always with them at all times. “Do not lose heart! Christ is with us. The Holy Spirit is still at work. The Gospel has not lost its power. The Eucharist has not lost its power. The priesthood has not lost its beauty. The Church has not lost her mission,” he said. He noted that many people are still searching for meaning, forgiveness, and hope, including young people, families, the poor, the lonely, and those who suffer. “There are still hearts waiting for the Gospel. There are still young people searching for meaning. There are still families seeking hope. There are still sinners waiting for forgiveness. There are still the poor, the lonely, and the suffering waiting to experience the tenderness of Christ,” he said. “Christ visits us. He speaks to us in His Word. Let us allow Him to renew us. Let us allow Him to strengthen what is weak, to heal what is wounded, to reconcile what is divided, to rekindle what has grown cold, and to restore in us the joy of our vocation,” he added. Invoking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, describing her as the Mother of Christ and Mother of Priests, he prayed for the Bishop, the Clergy of the Diocese of Witbank, and all the faithful entrusted to their pastoral care.