It Is Always Time for Mission

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country in Central Africa, with a territory eight times the size of Italy, rich in raw materials and home to the planet’s second-largest rainforest basin. Above all, however, it has one of the youngest populations in the world (an average of 16.4% elderly people, compared with 44.6% in Europe), a sign of great vitality and hope for Africa and for the world.

Precisely because of its immense wealth, the Congo continues to suffer the consequences of a war that has been tormenting its population since independence, 66 years ago, right up to the present day. Peace agreements, particularly with Rwanda, come and go, but they are often little more than a façade, because instability and insecurity serve the interests of major powers such as the United States and China, which, largely undisturbed, gain access to rare earths and minerals, above all coltan, essential to the development of new technologies.

Father Fernando’s long missionary experience

Father Fernando had already devoted years of his life to the people of the Congo: first, one year immediately after his ordination in 1973; then, later, in the fullness of his maturity, after a long period spent on mission in Brazil. He asked to work in Africa and subsequently spent another 12 years serving the people of the Congo (from 1990 to 2002), as pastor of St Mbaga Parish, on the outskirts of Kinshasa, and for six years as Provincial Superior.

Called to Rome as Secretary General of the Comboni Mission (2002–2007), he then spent 17 years in beautiful Florence, dedicated to promoting the Values of the Kingdom and serving the Gospel of Creation.

In 2025, despite being 77 years old, he returned to the Congo because a Comboni missionary responds to the inner spiritual call: it is always time for mission; for him, age does not matter.

At this stage of his life, Father Fernando chose to spend his later years among the poor of this great country, as an act of thanksgiving for all that the Lord has accomplished in his life, particularly during the great trial he faced in 2000, when a tumour on his vocal cords took away the joy of singing and proclaiming, in a full voice, the wonders of the Lord.

Yet his singing has since become more authentic and more profound, expressed through a quiet testimony and a closeness to the poor, lived out with tenderness and compassion.

Caring for those who are most vulnerable

At present, in the Congo, Father Zolli has three fundamental responsibilities entrusted to him by the Institute and the local Church.

First and foremost is being close to, and caring for, those who are most vulnerable. There is far too much poverty in the Congo, poverty that is unjustly perpetuated by those in power. People do not know how to survive and have no means of obtaining medical care. Children are often left to fend for themselves and lack the resources they need to grow up well and receive an education. Elderly people are frequently marginalised.

The task of the missionary is to help them, always and in every possible way, through the means that Providence provides.

The second responsibility is in service of the Institute. Father Fernando has been appointed as a “probus vir” to accompany the young confrères, supporting them, encouraging them, correcting them and helping to form new candidates for the mission.

To date, the Congo has given the Church 110 Comboni missionaries, both priests and brothers, and continues to train 35 theology students: a great treasure for the Church and for the mission of the future.

The third responsibility is lived out through the proclamation of the Gospel of Creation. Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, Father Fernando is director of the Laudato Si’ Mission Centre.

Young People and Integral Ecology

Following the Comboni charism of “regenerating Africa with Africa”, Father Fernando and numerous volunteers seek to discover the talents of young people, both boys and girls, who have a genuine concern for the care of Creation.

The Congolese people are, in fact, highly creative, and the centre helps young people turn their dreams into reality.

For example, one young man has invented an ecological Congolese wine made from avocado leaves. A group of young people from Mont-Ngafula, tired of seeing rubbish everywhere, have created a door-to-door waste-sorting and collection scheme in their neighbourhood.

The youth group at Our Lady of Africa Parish collects plastic bottles and recycles them. A creative mother produces ecological skincare products from fruit. A young woman promotes a commitment in schools whereby each pupil plants a tree, as a response to those who engage in deforestation for agribusiness projects.

All these activities keep Father Fernando’s heart young. After this brief period of rest and meetings, he will return to the Congo on 2 October.

Support for the Mission

He has asked us for help, prayer and support: to provide scholarships for young people in formation, to give financial support to young people's small projects in the field of integral ecology, and to provide small-scale assistance for the care of vulnerable children and elderly people.

Donations can be made to the Comboni Missionaries of Troia, specifying the following in the payment reference: “Opere missionarie di p. Zolli-Congo”.

A sincere thank you to everyone who attended the meeting on 2 September, and to all those who support missionaries, both men and women, in their daily commitment.

It will be both useful and necessary to renew the missionary spirit in the Mediatrice parish, and beyond, by creating a missionary group, following the example of those who came before us and entrusted to us the flame of the Gospel, for everyone and everywhere.

May we be conscious that Mediatrice, with her gentle, intense and benevolent gaze, encourages us to go further and never grow tired of giving ourselves and giving to others, so that everyone may have life, and have it to the full.

Fezo – Mediatrice parish, Troia