Dear Reader,
Do you remember loadshedding? One of the people we may thank for bringing that nightmare to an end looks at us from our cover this month.
As CEO of Eskom, Dan Marokane is indeed a “guardian of our lights”. But our interest in him lies not so much in his professional accomplishments as in how his lifelong Catholic faith — at one point he wanted to become a priest — helped lead him to where he is today.
Pope Leo XIV’s recent forays onto the stage of world politics have offered an alternative to the politics of threat, fear and domination. When the Holy Father calls for dialogue instead of the language of confrontation and violence, he is not dispensing hopeful platitudes with no relevance to the supposedly hopeless place people like to call “the real world”. Leo’s diplomatic philosophy encourages fundamental change while recognising the limits within which the real world can change.
Archbishop Henryk Jagodziński, the papal nuncio to Southern Africa, explains Pope Leo’s “Diplomacy of Hope” in a fascinating and readable six-part series on The Southern Cross’ website (find it at scross.co.za/papal-diplomacy). On page 14 of this issue, we publish a précis of his series.
Pope Leo’s prayer intention for September focuses on the just and sustainable management of water. On page 30, Dr Garikai Madavo reflects on this intention — one of great importance in South Africa, where a water crisis is never more than one dry season away.
A thread of Creation
The Holy Father doubtless chose that theme because on September 1 the Church marks the annual World Day of Prayer for Creation. Care for Creation echoes throughout this issue. On page 27, Dominican Sister Angelika Laub explains why we must protect the habitats of Creation, including our own.
St Francis of Assisi would certainly agree. He recognised humanity’s degradation of Creation 800 years ago and spoke pit against it. As we see in part three of our series of reflections on St Francis, his concerns remain highly relevant today.
Concern for Creation also has the last word in this issue, with a dozen quotations from wise voices ranging from St Basil the Great in the 4th century to our most recent popes. For me, the key quotation comes from St Thomas Aquinas, writing in the 13th century: “Any error about creation also leads to an error about God.”
The World Day of Prayer for Creation on September 1 was initiated by the Orthodox Church, and it was a sign of the Catholic Church’s growing commitment to Christian unity when Pope Francis adopted this annual day of prayer and reflection.
The two Churches have made enormous strides since the mutual excommunications were lifted in the 1960s. Some form of restored communion is now a very real prospect — hopefully long before the millennium of the Great Schism in 2054.
In this issue, Greek Orthodox Archbishop Sergios of Cape Town explains why he believes the remaining obstacles can be overcome and why unity is ultimately inevitable.
Our interviewer, Jason Scott, says that the reception he received from Archbishop Sergios was exceptionally warm and generous. That warmth comes across clearly in the article on page 10.
A new understanding
Over the past few decades, both the Church and society have evolved in their understanding of suicide, though much of the stigma remains. On page 12, journalist David Capel writes movingly about his personal loss through suicide and explains why most people who die in this way are victims of illness rather than some moral failure.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that while suicide is contrary to the love of God, self and neighbour, the Church entrusts those who have taken their own lives to the Lord’s infinite mercy, recognising that psychological suffering may diminish personal culpability (2280-2283). That message of mercy should offer comfort to those left behind.
Thank you for reading The Southern Cross, and please tell your friends about your monthly Catholic magazine.
God bless,
Günther Simmermacher
(Editor)
- Diplomacy and Creation - September 3, 2026
- Shrines around the World: Notre-Dame du Cap, Canada - August 26, 2026
- The Ancient Catholic Roots of the World’s Oldest Republic - August 17, 2026
