At the end of the bi-annual Plenary Session of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC), 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.”

From August 5 to 9, SACBC members addressed pastoral and socio-political issues in the region. The Conference of bishops committed themselves to further discussion, consultation, and discernment on several issues raised by the President of the SACBC, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, most especially: the abuse of alcohol by young people, ordination of women to the diaconate, ordination of Viri Probati (Latin for “respected men,” or men of proven faith) and the need for a National Dialogue in South Africa.

In their August 9 communique SACBC members “added their voice in expressing displeasure and hurt at the ridiculing and insulting of the Last Supper during the opening of the Paris Olympic Games” and called “on all Catholics and Christians not to be discouraged by the mockery but to continue to hold firm in their faith.”

SACBC members “welcomed the election of its new leadership: Cardinal Stephen Brislin, President; Archbishop Zolile Mpambani SCJ, 1st Vice-President; Archbishop Mandla Jwara CMM, 2nd Vice-President,”

According to the communique, the newly elected members of the SACBC executive will “assume their responsibilities at the close of the Plenary Session of January 2025.”