The Auxiliary Bishop of Pretoria has congratulated the Archdiocese of Johannesburg on the 65th anniversary of the Cathedral of Christ the King and the 30th anniversary of Pope Saint John Paul II’s historic visit.

In an interview with the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) communication office, Bishop Masilo John Selemela described the cathedral as “a place of communion, not only for the people of Johannesburg, but also for the Church in Southern Africa.”

Reflecting on the papal visit in 1995, Bishop Selemela recalled the Mass at Gosforth Park, where he was among the seminarians who served during Mass.

“I was one of those seminarians who were actually serving in that Mass in Gosforth Park, and it was memorable because John Paul II was a man of faith, a man of deep prayer, but also a man of great courage,” he said.

According to Bishop Selemela, the celebration was an invitation to pray that local churches “may be known by their courageous witness to the Gospel values.”

Turning to the cathedral itself, Bishop Selemela emphasized its enduring role at the heart of the city. Gesturing to its stained-glass windows, he explained that in earlier times “churches used to be a place of gathering where people could use the symbolism in the church to learn about the faith.”

For Bishop Selemela, the cathedral remains a place of refuge and welcome. “It is my hope and prayer that the cathedral would really become a place of hospitality, a place of inclusivity, where people are welcomed, given hope, and shown the way to happiness,” he said.

Bishop Selemela concluded by noting that the cathedral continues to embody life through the countless sacraments celebrated within its walls. “Many people were buried there, were baptized there, were married there, and many received sacraments there. So the cathedral is ultimately the place of life,” he said.