The bishops of the Catholic Church in Southern Africa gathered for their plenary session under the theme “Synodality and the Jubilee Year” at Khanya House (SACBC headquarters) in Pretoria from the 21st to the 28 of January 2024. Having prayerfully reflected on issues affecting the Church in Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa, they issued the following Communiqué:
In his last opening Presidential Address, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka paid tribute to five bishops who have reached retirement age (Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, Archbishop Emeritus Buti Tlhagale, Bishop Jan De Groef, Bishop Edward Risi, and Archbishop Frank Nubuasah) and highlighted their significant contributions to the SACBC and their respective dioceses. Bishop Sipuka also congratulated Cardinal Stephen Brislin for his appointment as Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Johannesburg.
Bishop Sipuka outlined the pressing pastoral, administrative, and socio-political challenges facing the Church, such as the declining membership and financial sustainability, the Jubilee Year and the Nicaean Creed Anniversary, shortage of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
The Apostolic Nuncio to South Africa Archbishop Henryk Mieczysław Jagodziński, in his address to the bishops highlighted the importance of synodality as a spiritual renewal and a call to unity, participation, and mission in the Church.
During the SACBC 2025 January Plenary Session the bishops, who are from South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini, addressed matters concerning Christian formation, liturgy and culture, ongoing formation, ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue, the Jubilee year, implementation of Synodality, catholic education, the establishment of a Catholic Institute of higher education, the G20, Ubungoma research and digitalisation.
Synod on Synodality
The Conference of bishops approved the establishment of a commission/office dedicated to the implementation of synodality in the Conference. SACBC Synod delegate Archbishop Dabula Mpako was elected to head the commission.
Future Vision of Catholic Higher Education
The Conference welcomed the decision to extand the Future Vision Task Team and include representatives from the three Catholic institutions of higher learning.
Ecumenism and Inter-religious dialogue
The Conference acknowledges the importance of ongoing formation and education, while acknowledging challenges such as identity preservation and historical tensions. The Conference recommends continued focus on formation, dialogue, and practical implementation strategies moving forward.
New SACBC Leadership
The Conference elected new heads of departments and Liaison Bishops
Cardinal Stephen Brislin
Spokesperson SACBC
28 January 2025