Some 110 newly ordained bishops from Africa and Madagascar, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania met in Rome for the training course for new bishops under the theme “Living the Episcopal Mission in a Synodal Church.”

During the September 4-13 seminar organised by the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelisation, the Baby Bishops had the opportunity to reflect on their ministry’s identity, and their mission as bishops, share experiences, learn more about the Roman Curia and meet with Pope Francis, an audience described by many as the “highlight” of the training course for new bishops.

In attendance during the ten-day seminar were nine recently ordained bishops from the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC), eight from South Africa, and one from Botswana. In a video message shared with the SACBC communications office Bishop Joseph Mary Kizito of Aliwal Diocese said, “The highlight was the meeting with the Holy Father.”

“Once again, we had the opportunity to speak to him and he was listening… He did not come up with an agenda. The agenda was in our hands and different bishops raised different questions about catechism, about finances,” said Bishop Kizito.

The Local Ordinary of Aiwal Diocese went on to say that during the Audience with the Holy Father, the bishops experienced a “good atmosphere” as the Pope “was really a father to us.”

The ten-day seminar also included presentations and discussions about various topics such as the management of Church property, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, the protection of minors, educational action of the Church, the bishops’ relationship with clergy, and religion.

For Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa of Kokstad Diocese, the seminar was also “an opportunity to meet other bishops from different parts of the world and to share also our own experiences in our ministry.”

The other SACBC Bishops at the ten-day seminar were Bishops Anthony Rebelo of Francistown Diocese, Masilo Selemela, Auxiliary Bishop of Pretoria Archdiocese, Neil Frank of Mariannhill Diocese, Robert Mphiwe of Rustenburg Diocese, Siphiwo Vanqa of Queenstown Diocese, Sylvester David, Auxiliary Bishop of Cape Town Archdiocese and Noel Rucastle of Oudtshoorn Diocese.