This is an article from "The Southern Cross"
An Agentinian who knows Pope Francis from Buenos Aires serves as the only bishop of Eswatini. Bishop José Luis Ponce de León is interviewed by MANDLA ZIBI.
Bishop José Luís Ponce de León heads the diocese of Manzini, which serves all of the Kingdom of Eswatini (the former Swaziland). Born on May 8, 1961 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and ordained to the priesthood in 1986, he is a member of the Consolata Missionaries.
He was serving at his congregation’s headquarters in Rome, having served for 11 years in South Africa, when he was appointed bishop of Ingwavuma in KwaZulu-Natal in 2008. In 2013, he was appointed bishop of Manzini, and installed there on January 26, 2014.
You have been bishop of Manzini for six years. What have been the highlights in that time?
The very first one has been the faith of the people who welcomed “a kind of a stranger” as their bishop.
Though I had been part-time administrator of the diocese while being bishop of Ingwavuma [following the sudden death of Bishop Louis Ndlovu in 2012), I had never worked in this diocese before. I had never served in Eswatini before.
Another highlight is the commitment of our Catholics. I cannot recall a single event we had planned together that did not materialise. All our diocesan events are generously supported.
Bishop José Luís Ponce de León heads the diocese of Manzini, which serves all of the Kingdom of Eswatini (the former Swaziland). Born on May 8, 1961 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and ordained to the priesthood in 1986, he is a member of the Consolata Missionaries.
He was serving at his congregation’s headquarters in Rome, having served for 11 years in South Africa, when he was appointed bishop of Ingwavuma in KwaZulu-Natal in 2008. In 2013, he was appointed bishop of Manzini, and installed there on January 26, 2014.
You have been bishop of Manzini for six years. What have been the highlights in that time?
The very first one has been the faith of the people who welcomed “a kind of a stranger” as their bishop.
Though I had been part-time administrator of the diocese while being bishop of Ingwavuma [following the sudden death of Bishop Louis Ndlovu in 2012), I had never worked in this diocese before. I had never served in Eswatini before.
Another highlight is the commitment of our Catholics. I cannot recall a single event we had planned together that did not materialise. All our diocesan events are generously supported.
