SW News: The Catholic Church in the African nation of Malawi has been hailed by the president for its initiatives to improve the livelihood of citizens. During a meeting with Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone, President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera praised the enormous socioeconomic impact of the projects undertaken by the Church in the country.

President Lazarus promised that his government would continue to cooperate with the Church to improve the living conditions of people. In a Facebook message on Feb. 1, the head of the state said, “I have restated my administration’s satisfaction with the enormous socioeconomic impact the Roman Catholic Church has had in this country for decades through a number of interventions in various key sectors of human development.”

In his message, the president explained that the purpose of the meeting with the nuncio was the consolidation of the warm ties between the nation and the Catholic Church. The head of state also said that Archbishop Gallone promised to improve the livelihood of the citizens through various collaborative measures.

President Lazarus said, “His Excellency Gallone has, on behalf of the Church, pledged to continue collaborating with my government and the people of Malawi in realizing improved livelihoods at household, community, and national levels.”

In a message sent to ACI Africa news outlet on Feb. 3, the head of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi Archbishop George Desmond Tambala said the prelates have launched the Child and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy. This is to protect minors and adults belonging to vulnerable sections of society from abuse, which is at the core of the mission of the Church in Malawi.

The Archbishop of Lilongwe in the capital warned that those who support abuse against children and vulnerable adults will not be protected by the Catholic Church. He said that reporting processes have been spelt out in the policy to tackle the predators.