Category Archives: News & Events

Habemus Papam!

The Translation of Pope Leo XIV first address.

“Peace be with you all!

Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for God’s flock. I too wish that this greeting of peace may enter your hearts, reach your families, all people, wherever they may be, all peoples, the whole earth. Peace be with you!

This is the peace of the Risen Christ—an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, who loves us all unconditionally. We still hear in our ears the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome!

The Pope who blessed Rome was giving his blessing to the world, to the whole world, that Easter morning. Allow me to continue that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and with one another, let us go forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to be reached by God and His love. Help us—and each other—to build bridges, through dialogue, through encounter, uniting everyone to be one people always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!

I also want to thank all my fellow cardinals who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice, always striving to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.

I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian, who said: “With you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop.” In this spirit, we can all walk together toward that homeland God has prepared for us.

To the Church of Rome, a special greeting! We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with open arms. Everyone—everyone who needs our charity, our presence, dialogue, and love.

And if you’ll allow me, a word, a greeting to all and in a special way to my dear diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, have shared their faith, and have given so much, so much to remain a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.

To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world—we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer.

Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, be close, help us with her intercession and her love.

So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask this special grace from Mary, our Mother.

Hail Mary…”

An In-depth look at the man who has become Pope Leo XIV

https://aleteia.org/2025/05/08/in-depth-a-look-at-the-man-who-has-become-leo-xiv?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_campaign=EM-EN-Newsletter-Daily-&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_term=20250508

SACBC Welcomes Pope Leo XIV with Gratitude and Prayer

Statement and Homilies on Pope Francis

Below is the SACBC Press Statement on the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Stephen Brislin’s homily at the Archdiocese of Johannesburg memorial service for Pope Francis, Bishop Sipuka’s homily at the National Memorial Service, and Bishop Sylvester David’s homily at the ‘In Memoriam’ Mass for the Archdiocese of Cape Town on 30 April 2025.

SACBC PRESS STATEMENT

CARDINAL BRISLIN’S HOMILY

BISHOP SIPUKA’S HOMILY AT NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE OF SACBC AND SACC

BISHOP SYLVESTER DAVID’S HOMILY AT ‘IN MEMORIAM’ MASS FOR POPE FRANCIS

Prayers for the Conclave

Please see below a Novena and prayers for the Conclave, beginning 7th May: https://guadalupeshrine.org/journal/conclave-novena/

2025-Conclave-Novena-Prayer-Card-4x6-ENGLISH

Prayer for the Conclave

Lord Jesus,
Before leaving the scene of this world, you said to all the apostles:
“I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
We now feel your reassuring presence and are certain that you always remain at the helm of the ship that is the church, guiding it with a firm and secure hand through the storms of history.
In this moment of anxious expectation, send your Holy Spirit, to enlighten the minds of the Cardinals in choosing Peter’s successor. May they choose the one that you have in mind, the one you have did designated to lead your flock today.
Holy Mother of the Redeemer,
You prayed with the apostles in the Cenacle and awaited with them the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Pray for us and pray with us to obtain for us the gift of a new Pentecost of fervour, enthusiasm and joyful obedience to the Gospel of your divine Son Jesus.
Amen.
Prayer for the Conclave 2025

Funeral Mass for Pope Francis – Live from the Vatican

This re-posting contains extra content of homilies and tributes to Pope Francis

The Funeral of Pope Francis will take place tomorrow, Saturday, 26 April 2025 at 10:00 am (SA time)

Join us in prayer for the Funeral Mass of Pope Francis from St Peter’s Basilica. The liturgical celebration will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. At the conclusion of the Mass, the coffin of the Holy Father will be taken in procession to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where the burial will take place. Let us pray together for the eternal rest of our beloved Pope Francis.

Click on the image below to link to the Vatican website

Below the link is the SACBC Press Statement, the booklet for the Celebration of the Funeral, Cardinal Stephen Brislin’s homily at the memorial service for Pope Francis, in Johannesburg, Bishop Sipuka’s homily at the National Memorial Service, and Bishop Sylvester David’s homily at the ‘In Memoriam’ Mass for the Archdiocese of Cape Town on 30 April 2025.

FUNERAL BOOKLET

SACBC PRESS STATEMENT

CARDINAL BRISLIN’S HOMILY

BISHOP SIPUKA’S HOMILY AT NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE OF SACBC AND SACC

BISHOP SYLVESTER DAVID’S HOMILY AT ‘IN MEMORIAM’ MASS FOR POPE FRANCIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tributes and Interviews on the passing of Pope Francis

Many tributes have poured in to the Archdiocese of Cape Town upon the announcement of the passing of Pope Francis, and can be found below. As new tributes come in they will be added to this page.

Announcement from the Vatican

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-dies-on-easter-monday-aged-88.html

Various interviews from the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (Cardinal Stephen Brislin)

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/podcast/english-for-africa/2025/04/english-africa-21-04-2025.html
Features Cardinal Stephen Brislin from 9 minutes into the program.

Interview with Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference Communications Officer, Sheila Pires

Audio Tribute from Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba

From the Moderator of the Western Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church
To Cardinal Stephen Brislin and the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in South-Africa.
Our dear brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic Church
Please accept herewith our deepest condolences with the passing of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025.
Pope Francis was, as church leader and follower of Christ, a living example of humility and care for the most vulnerable and marginalized in society. His heart for the poor and needy stood out in a time of greed and self-interest. With great courage he engaged the complex issues of our day and he did not falter in the face of criticism. Following in the footsteps of the saint whose name he chose for himself, he also had a deep concern for creation, and he made the prophetic voice of the church heard on the ecological crisis the world currently faces.
As the Moderator of the Western Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church we pray that our Lord will comfort and guide you with his love and wisdom in this time.
Best regards
On behalf of the Moderator of the Western Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church
Dr Rudolph Scharneck (Scribe)

From the ANC