Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka

The Archdiocese of Lusaka (Archidioecesis Lusakensis) serves as the central ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Zambia and is considered the national primatial see. Its principal cathedral is the Cathedral of the Child Jesus, situated in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital.

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Statistics

As of 2015, the archdiocese ministered to 1,171,000 Catholics, representing 35.4% of the total population of 3,310,000. The archdiocese covers a vast area of 64,000 square kilometers and is divided into 60 parishes and 86 missions. Its pastoral team includes 235 priests (81 diocesan and 154 religious), 1,300 lay religious (327 brothers and 973 sisters), and 37 seminarians.

Ecclesiastical Province

The Archdiocese of Lusaka leads the following suffragan dioceses:

Diocese of Chipata
Diocese of Kabwe
Diocese of Livingstone
Diocese of Mongu
Diocese of Monze
Diocese of Ndola
Diocese of Solwezi

Historical Timeline

1927: Established as the Apostolic Prefecture of Broken Hill (later renamed Lusaka), carved out of the Apostolic Prefecture of Zambese.
1936: Lost territory to form the Apostolic Prefecture of Victoria Falls (now Diocese of Livingstone).
1938: Lost territory to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Ndola.
1946: Renamed Apostolic Prefecture of Lusaka.
1950: Elevated to Apostolic Vicariate.
1959: Promoted to Metropolitan Archdiocese.
1962: Lost territory to establish the Diocese of Monze.
2011: Lost territory to establish the Diocese of Kabwe.

The archdiocese received a visit from Pope John Paul II in May 1989.

Notable Leaders

Archbishop Adam Kozłowiecki, S.J.: Served from 1959 to 1969, later became a cardinal.
Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo: Served from 1969 to 1983, later reduced to lay state.
Archbishop Adrian Mung’andu: Served from 1984 to 1996.
Archbishop Medardo Joseph Mazombwe: Served from 1996 to 2006, later became a cardinal.
Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu: Served from 2006 to 2018.
Archbishop Alick Banda: Has been serving since 2018.