Photo credit: Sheldon Reddiar
Rt. Rev. Sithembele Anton Sipuka, bishop of the diocese of Mthatha in South Africa and a member of the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA), has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV to serve as a member of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.
The announcement, made in a Vatican press release on Thursday, July 3, introduced 24 new members to the Dicastery, which is tasked with promoting mutual respect, understanding, and collaboration between the Catholic Church and other religious traditions across the globe.
Bishop Sipuka’s inclusion in this key Vatican body is a notable development for IMBISA, a regional ecclesial body that brings together Catholic bishops from Southern African countries. His appointment highlights the growing recognition of the region’s voice within the global Church and affirms IMBISA’s contribution to interreligious cooperation.
Among the other newly appointed members are Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa of Jerusalem, bishop Ollo Modeste Kambou of Gaoua (Burkina Faso), and bishop Wilybard Lagho of Malindi (Kenya). The appointments also include representatives from diverse regions such as Brazil, Pakistan, Japan, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Iran, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States.
Bishop Sipuka’s new role is not only a personal milestone but also a moment of pride for IMBISA, whose commitment to promoting faith-based dialogue and peaceful coexistence is increasingly being acknowledged at the highest levels of the Church.
Congratulations to all the newly appointed members.