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Pope Francis Accepts Retirement of Catholic Bishop of Lesotho’s Leribe Diocese, Appoints Successor

Silas Isenjia

By Silas Isenjia

Maseru, 28 February, 2025 / 7:45 pm (ACI Africa).

Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Bishop Augustinus Tumaole Bane from the pastoral care of the Catholic Diocese of Leribe in Lesotho and appointed Mons. Vitalis Sekhonyana Marole as his successor.

The appointment of Mons. Marole, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), was made public by the Holy See Press Office on Friday, February 28.

In his congratulatory message following the Papal appointment that the Apostolic Nunciature in South Africa also made public, the Local Ordinary of Pretoria Archdiocese, Archbishop Dabula Anthony Mpako, expresses confidence in the abilities of the Bishop-elect “is fully-equipped” to take up the Episcopal ministry and pledges his spiritual solidarity.

The Bishop-elect, Archbishop Mpako goes on to say, “has served in various parishes and pastoral districts in the Archdiocese and has occupied a number of important positions of responsibility including serving as Dean and as a member of the College of Consultors.”

“We join the Diocese of Leribe and the Church in Lesotho in praying for the new Bishop and all those entrusted to his pastoral care. It would be a good thing that when Msgr. Vitalis is a consecrated Bishop in Leribe,” Archbishop Mpako says.

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The Local Ordinary of Pretoria adds, “As the Archdiocese of Pretoria, we heartily congratulate Msgr. Vitalis Marole on his appointment. We have all the confidence that he is fully equipped to successfully and effectively carry out the new responsibility now entrusted to him.”

In his message, Archbishop Mpako says he looks forward to participating in the Episcopal Consecration of Mons. Vitalis, adding that it will be a meaningful way to show support and appreciation for his years of dedicated service to the Archdiocese of Pretoria.

Born on 10 December 1954 in the Archdiocese of Maseru, the Bishop-elect was ordained a Priest of OMI on 3 December 1988  after completing his studies in Philosophy and Theology at the Oblate Scholasticate in Lesotho and St. John Vianney National Major Seminary in Pretoria, respectively.

The Bishop- elect, who took his perpetual vows on 9 December 1996, has served in various capacities, including Parish Priest of St. Elizabeth’s in Mamaneng, Pretoria, and Parish Priest of St. Peter’s in Kagiso 1, Johannesburg.

He has also served as Parish Priest of St. Raphael’s in Mamelodi, Pretoria; Dean of the Eastern Deanery; Novice Master at the International Oblate Novitiate, Johannesburg; and Chaplain of St. Benedict’s College in Bedfordview.

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The OMI member has also served as Parish Priest of St. Anne’s in Atteridgeville, Chaplain of Holy Trinity High School, Pretoria, and Parish Priest of St. Peter’s in Cullinan and St. Eugene de Mazenod in Refilwe.

When consecrated Bishop, Mons. Marole will serve as the fifth Local Ordinary of the 5,215-square-kilometer Diocese, which has a total population of 455,700, of which 266,753 are Catholics, representing 58.5 percent of the population, according to the 2024 statistics.

The Suffragan Diocese of Maseru Metropolitan See was erected in December 1952 as the Diocese of Maseru before changing to the Diocese of Leribe in January 1961.

Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.

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