The Holy Father’s representative in Eswatini, Namibia, Lesotho, and South Africa is to extend his Vatican diplomatic role to the Southern African nation of Botswana.

In a Tuesday, August 20 communique shared with the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC), the Apostolic Nunciature in Pretoria, South Africa confirms Pope Francis’s appointment of Archbishop Henryk Mieczysław Jagodziński as Apostolic Nuncio in Botswana.

At the end of the SACBC bi-annual Plenary Session held at the Mariannhill Conference and Retreat Centre from August 5 to 9, Catholic bishops in Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa issued a communique expressing gratitude to Pope Francis “for the appointment of Archbishop Henryk Jagodziński as the Apostolic Nuncio and appreciated his presence at and address to, the plenary session.”

In a video comment shared with the SACBC communication office Archbishop Frank Atese Nubuasah SVD of Gaborone Diocese said he’s looking forward to Archbishop Jagodziński scheduled visit to Botswana in February 2025.

“He comes across as a very friendly, open person who is ready to work and you can see the energy and the enthusiasm he has. So we’re looking forward to his coming to Botswana. He will be coming there next year in February to visit the two dioceses, to meet the people and meet the priests and help us to settle and find new bishops,” said Archbishop Nubuasah SVD.

Born in Małogoszcz, Poland on 1 January 1969, Archbishop Jagodziński was ordained a Priest in the Diocese of Kielce on 3 June 1995.

The graduate in Canon Law who speaks English, Polish, Croatian, French, Italian, Russian, and Spanish entered the Holy See’s Diplomatic Service in July 2001.

He subsequently served in the Pontifical Representations in Belorussia, in Croatia, at the Section for Relations with the States of the Secretariate of State, at the Apostolic Nunciature in India, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Before his appointment to Southern Africa, the 55-year-old Polish-born diplomat was serving as the representative of the Holy Father in Ghana. Archbishop Jagodziński succeeds Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells who was transferred to the Vatican Diplomatic Mission in Thailand and Cambodia in February 2023.