Cardinal Filoni is the Special Envoy to Karonga Diocese

By Vatican Radio

The Holy Father Pope Francis has named the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, as his special envoy at the consecration of Karonga’s Cathedral in Malawi. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on 5 November 2016.

The Diocese of Karonga is situated in the Northern part of Malawi bordering Tanzania and Zambia.
Karonga as a Diocese was created on 21 July 2010 and officially inaugurated on 20 November 2010. On the same day, Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka was ordained as the diocese’s first Bishop.

Karonga Diocese is divided into two deaneries which are subdivided into six parishes. The diocese covers the geographical districts of Karonga and Chitipa including the northern part of Rumphi. It has an area of 12 000 Square Kilometres with a population of 467 000 of whom about 65 000 are Catholics.

The area under the diocese is the remotest and poorest part of Malawi. It is territory that is mostly hilly and mountainous making the movement of both goods and people difficult. The region has been prone to a series of disasters such as earth tremors, floods and droughts.