Francistown, 05 June, 2024 / 8:40 pm (ACI Africa).
Following the death of Bishop Anthony Pascal Rebello of the Catholic Diocese of Francistown in Botswana who collapsed during Holy Mass on May 4, the Apostolic Nunciature has confirmed the appointment of Fr. Gabriel Lionel Afagbegee as the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese.
In the statement dated Wednesday, June 5, the Apostolic Nunciature in Southern Africa that covers Botswana says that Fr. Afagbegee was appointed on May 22 to temporarily administer the Diocese.
The Diocese became vacant when Bishop Rebello, the Kenyan member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) who had turned 74 on March 18 died last month.
Born in 1953 in Ghana, Fr. Afagbegee was ordained a Priest for the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in 1982 after completing his Philosophical and theological studies at St. Victors Seminary in Ghana’s Tamale Archdiocese.
Until his appointment as the Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Francistown in Botswana, he was serving as the Vicar General of the Diocese.