The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has announced with great sadness the death of Bishop Edward Gabriel Risi, OMI, Bishop of Keimoes-Upington, who passed away on 4 December 2025 after several months of illness.

He had been in and out of the hospital since May and was admitted to Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg on 2 December, where he remained in intensive care until his death.

In its statement, the SACBC highlighted Bishop Risi’s deep love for the Church’s liturgical life, his unwavering dedication to formation, and his long-standing service within the Conference. He previously chaired the Department for Christian Formation, Liturgy and Culture, later serving as the Third Episcopal Member for Ecumenism, and played a key role in supporting the ministry and formation of exorcists in the region.

Bishop Risi was widely regarded as one of Southern Africa’s leading liturgists. His leadership ensured that the SACBC remained at the forefront of implementing updated liturgical norms, including the introduction of the New English Roman Missal. The bishops also praised his meticulous work in preparing the SACBC’s last Ad Limina visit, which resulted in one of the Conference’s most fruitful engagements with the Dicastery for Divine Worship.

He was instrumental in shaping the SACBC Pastoral Plan (2020), a landmark initiative aimed at renewing evangelization and strengthening the formation of the laity.

The bishops expressed their gratitude for Bishop Risi’s lifetime of service and prayed that the Lord may grant him eternal rest.

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.”