The first in the history of the Roman church in Zambia, the Vatican Ambassador to the country, Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, said in a statement the 79-year-old Archbishop will be conferred with the Cardinalate alongside 24 other new Cardinals.

“For the first time in history a native Zambian is created Cardinal. This is great news for Zambia and this region of Africa. In fact the appointment of a Cardinal goes far beyond the Catholic community and it is a sign of acknowledgement and love of our beloved Pope Benedict XVI not only for the Catholics but for all people of this country and region regardless of their religious affiliation,” Archbishop Girasoli stated.

He stated the appointment was a sign of acknowledgement that the church had grown in Zambia and in the region, and that the development would contribute to enriching the unity of the Catholics in the country and the region on one hand, and the See of Rome and the Bishops on the other.

“We encourage many Zambians to accompany Mons. Mazombwe to the Vatican for this unique and historical occasion, which will crown a life of service to the Church and to the people of God,” stated Archbishop Girasoli, the online Post of Zambia posted.

It has been a long standing tradition for Catholics to elevate outstanding bishops and archbishops to the level of cardinal and at 79, Archbishop Mazombwe would be eligible to elect and be elected Pope.

From 20 November 2010, Archbishop Mazombwe will henceforth be officially referred to as His Eminence Medardo Cardinal Mazombwe. Cardinals serve as papal advisors and hold positions of authority with the structure of the Catholic Church.

Upon creation, a Cardinal automatically becomes a member of the College of Cardinals which is the one empowered to elect among itself someone to become Pope. However, on turning 80 a cardinal loses this right of election.

There are currently 181 living cardinals although there are only 108 of them who are eligible to vote for a new pope should a conclave be called. The maximum number of cardinal electors is 120 and cardinals are ineligible to vote in a conclave upon reaching 80 years of age.

The Post further reported Archbishop Mazombwe who recently celebrated 50 years as a priest, was born on 24th September 1931 in Chipata, Eastern Province. He was ordained a Catholic priest on 4th September 1960 and became Bishop of Chipata on 7th February 1971.

Speculation about the possibility of a pope coming from the developing world especially Africa has continued to grow, in part because the Catholic Church is growing rapidly in Africa.

There are currently 12 Catholic Cardinals from Africa, Bernard Agre from Cote d’Ivoire, Francis Arinze from Nigeria, Frederic Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi from Angola and Alexandre do Nascimento from Benin.

Others are South Africa’s Bernardin Gantin, Wilfrid Fox Napier from Lagos Nigeria, Anthony Olubumni Okogie, Polycarp Pengo from Tanzania, Christian Wiyshan Tumi from Cameroon, Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana, Uganda’s Emmanuel Wamala and Gabriel Zubeir Wako from Sudan.