Fr. Felipe Fabiane, the Secretary to the Papal Nuncio to Zimbabwe, has completed his three-year tenure and is moving on to his next assignment in Paraguay.
A farewell reception was held on 11 February 2025, at the Nunciature in Harare. The event was attended by Archbishop Robert Ndlovu of Harare, Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro of Gweru, IMBISA Secretariat Director Fr. Rafael Sapato, and IMBISA Secretariat Coordinators Frs. Gilbert Chibira, Pelagio Cachingona, and Enrico Parry, along with many priests and religious figures. The Papal Nuncio to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Janusz Urbańczyk, praised Fr. Fabiane for his dedicated service, recognizing his professional commitment during his time in Zimbabwe.
Archbishop Urbańczyk humorously compared Zimbabwe and Paraguay, noting that while both countries are landlocked and similar in size, they differ greatly in their Catholic populations. As a token of appreciation, Fr. Fabiane was presented with two works of art symbolizing Zimbabwe’s culture and wildlife.
In his farewell speech, Fr. Fabiane reflected on his initial concerns about coming to Zimbabwe, admitting that he had searched for the country on Google Maps. He mentioned his fears about hunger, violence, and conflict often associated with Africa, but emphasized how he was fortunate to experience Zimbabwe as a peaceful country with no major issues.
Fr. Fabiane also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to witness the Church’s deep connection to Zimbabwe’s culture and history. He humorously mentioned his regret about not learning Shona during his time there.
Fr. Fabiane now prepares for his next chapter in Paraguay, marking the end of a significant phase in his diplomatic journey.