AFRICA/BOTSWANA - Apostolic Vicariate of Francistown elevated to Diocese and appointment of the first Bishop

Monday, 2 October 2017

BOTSWANA

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Apostolic Vicariate of Francistown elevated to Diocese and appointment of the first Bishop

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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Today, the Holy Father elevated the apostolic Vicariate of Francistown (Botswana) to Diocese with the same denomination and territorial configuration, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan seat in Pretoria, South Africa. The Holy Father appointed His Exc. Mgr. Franklyn Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D., current apostolic Vicar of the same seat, as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Francistown.
The new Diocese of Francistown is one of the two ecclesiastical Circumscriptions of Botswana. It extends over the entire northern part of the Country, covering an area of 472,995 sq. Km, that is to say about two-thirds of the entire territory (600,370 sq. Km.). It has a population of 1,200,000, of whom 17,000 Catholics (1.4%), distributed in 17 parishes. 26 priests, 28 religious women belonging to 6 different Congregations, and 1 religious brother. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 2/10/2017)