Pope Leo XIV has accepted the retirement of Bishop Jan de Groef from the Pastoral care of the Catholic Diocese of Bethlehem in South Africa and has appointed his successor.
In the latest administrative changes published Tuesday, April 14 by the Holy See Press Office, the Holy Father appointed Mons. Motlatsi Meshack Phomane from the Diocese of Umtata as the successor of the 78-year-old Belgium-born member of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers).
The appointment of Mons. Meshack, who until now serves as Parish Priest of Mt. Nicholas in Libode was confirmed by the Apostolic Nunciature to South Africa on the same day of the announcement.
“The Apostolic Nunciature joins the Church in Southern Africa in praying for His Lordship, The Most Reverend Motlatsi Meshack PHOMANE, the new Bishop of the Diocese of Bethlehem, and those under his pastoral care,” the statement confirming the announcement indicates.
Mons. Meshack was born on 14 November 1975, in Tshenola (Matatiele), in the Diocese of Umtata. Before entering the seminary, he undertook various work experiences before beginning his priestly formation at St. Philip Neri Pre-Oriental Seminary in Port Elizabeth.
He later continued his formation at St. Kizito Preparatory Seminary in Verulam, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, before studying philosophy at St. Peter’s Seminary in Garsfontein and theology at St. John Vianney Major Seminary in Pretoria.
He was ordained a Priest on 30 June 2012, incardinated in the Diocese of Umtata. He has since held various pastoral, administrative, and academic responsibilities, including Diploma studies in Business Management at the University of South Africa from 2012 to 2013.
The alumnus of the Kenya- based Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) where he obtained a Licentiate studies in Canon Law has also served as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Umtata, Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist, Port St. John, and Diocesan Financial Administrator from 2013 to 2015.
The Bishop-elect also served as Parish Priest of St. Martin, Mt Fletcher from 2019 to 2025; Diocesan Representative for the Pastoral Conference, Sotho Region since 2013; and Diocesan Translator for the Sesotho language (since 2016).
He has served as member of the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Durban since 2019; Member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Umtata since 2021; and Chaplain for the Diocesan Synod Committee, and Member of the Diocesan Finance Committee since 2025.
Once Consecrated Bishop, he will become the 5th Local Ordinary of the South African Diocese succeeding Bishop Groef who has been at the helm of the Episcopal See since his Episcopal Ordination on 28 March 2009.
The Diocese that has a population of 59,916 Catholics out of the total population of 858,779, representing 7.0 percent, according to 2023 statistics, measures 34,965 square-kilometer.
Erected on 12 February 1948 as Vicariate Apostolic of Bethlehem, before elevation to a diocese on 11 January 1951, the Episcopal See is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bloemfontein.