In a spirit of pastoral care and fidelity to Church teaching, the Archdiocese of Johannesburg opened the doors of the Cathedral of Christ the King to host a memorial Mass for the late former President of Zambia, Edgar Lungu, following a request from the family amidst public controversy and legal restrictions.

Cardinal Stephen Brislin spoke to the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) communication office about the sensitive circumstances surrounding the ceremony. Cardinal Brislin noted that the Archdiocese had received a request from Lungu’s family for a Requiem Mass.

“He was a catechumen… and as a catechumen, having started the RCIA program, he was entitled to have a Catholic funeral,” Cardinal Brislin explained.

On the morning of June 25, as mourners gathered, the Pretoria High Court issued an interim interdict at the request of the Zambian government, blocking Lungu’s burial in South Africa. Judge Aubrey Phago Ledwaba ordered a postponement of the burial until a hearing set for August 4, after the Zambian authorities invoked national law requiring former presidents be interred in Zambia.

In response, Cardinal Brislin revealed that instead of proceeding with burial rites, the Archbishop of Lusaka celebrated a memorial Mass. The Cardinal expressed unity with the family’s spiritual desire and respected the court’s ruling: “We opened our cathedral for the Requiem Mass… and indeed the Archbishop of Lusaka arrived to conduct the service.”

The cathedral was filled with clergy, family, and mourners. In his homily, Archbishop Alick Banda described the late President as a man of faith who endured isolation, criticism, and national hardships with humility, silent strength, and trust in God, urging citizens to emulate his example of resilient, faith-driven leadership and service.

The legal ruling elicited mixed reactions. The Pretoria High Court affirmed Zambia’s legal claim to a state burial in Lusaka, while South African officials stated that local law supports honoring the family’s wishes.

Cardinal Brislin’s remarks is a reminder of the Church’s ministry to the dying, and that grieving transcends political conflict. By recognising Lungu’s catechumen status and hosting the memorial Mass, the Archdiocese upheld its duty to provide spiritual comfort, while abiding by judicial decisions.