Members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) met at Khanya House, Pretoria for the 2025 January plenary session. Themed “Synodality and the Jubilee Year,” the session focused on the Church’s mission, challenges, and future vision as it enters a significant period of renewal and celebration.

During the press briefing on Tuesday, January 28, the SACBC President who doubles as the Spokesperson Cardinal Stephen Brislin read the Bishops communiqué to members of the media who joined both in person and online.

In their Tuesday, January 28 communiqué the Catholic Bishops of Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa lauded Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka’s opening remarks at the start of the plenary and thanked the Apostolic Nuncio to Southern Africa Archbishop Henryk Mieczysław Jagodziński for his address on synodality during the Wednesday, January 22 plenary session.

The Catholic Bishops in the communiqué signed by Cardinal Brislin, identified several challenges facing the Church in the region, including the declining membership and financial sustainability, the critical shortage of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

The SACBC 2025 January plenary session saw the election of the new heads of departments, liaison Bishops, and the establishment of new commissions. Among some of the key resolutions is the establishment of a dedicated commission to oversee and implement synodality within the Conference to be headed by SACBC Synod delegate Archbishop Dabula Mpako, and the Future Vision for Catholic Education of Higher Learning commission to be headed by Bishop Neil Frank OMI.

The SACBC 2025 January plenary session underscored the Church’s commitment to addressing contemporary challenges while upholding its mission of unity, service, and renewal. As the Jubilee Year approaches, the Church in Southern Africa looks forward to celebrating its rich history while embracing a future guided by faith and solidarity.