BISHOP JOSE LUIS REPLACES THE LATE NCAMISO NDLOVU

MBABANE – Pope Francis I of the Roman Catholic Church has appointed Bishop Jose Luis Gerardo Ponce de Leon as the successor of the late Bishop Ncamiso Ndlovu.

His appointment comes at a time when the local branch, the Diocese of Manzini, would be hosting about 29 bishops during its centenary celebrations to be held next year in January.

According to a statement released by the church’s Apostolic Nunciature to Southern Africa, Bishop Ponce de Leon would be the Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Ingwavuma (South Africa).
The newly-appointed bishop was the Apostolic Administrator of the Manzini Diocese, which means acting bishop.

Historically, Bishop Ponce de Leon would be the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Manzini. The other bishops were Bishop Costantino Maria Attilio Barneschi (1961 to 1965), Bishop Girolamo Maria Casalini (1965 to1976), Bishop Aloysius Isaac Mandlenkhosi Zwane (1976 to 1980) and Bishop Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu (1985 to 2012).

Diocese Administrator Father Peter Ndwandwe, when asked about the ordaining ceremony of Bishop Ponce de Leon, said it might be held during the centenary celebrations next year. “The Diocese is still to meet and discuss the logistics. Hopefully, it could be during the centenary celebrations,” he said.

In an earlier interview, Bishop Ponce de Leon recounted that on January 27, 1914, the first four Catholic missionaries arrived in the country, and hence the church would be celebrating 100 years next year. He said these were members of the Order of the Servants Mary, who were coming from Europe.

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