On Thursday, July 3, 2025, the Vatican announced the appointment of 21 new members to the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, a body tasked with fostering mutual understanding and cooperation between the Catholic Church and other faiths.
Among those appointed is Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka of the Diocese of Mthatha, South Africa. Reacting to the announcement in a video interview, Bishop Sipuka shared that he first heard the news from the communications officer at Khanya House, the headquarters of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), “It was the first time I was hearing about it,” he said.
Bishop Sipuka joins a diverse and distinguished group of Church leaders from around the world, including representatives from Kenya, Burkina Faso, Brazil, Iran, the United States, Vietnam, and many other countries. The global nature of the body, he remarked, reflects the Church’s mission to engage meaningfully with regions where interreligious dynamics are central to social cohesion.
“It makes sense,” he noted, “because a large part of the religions we dialogue with are found in those areas. The Holy Father’s inclusion of voices from these regions ensures deeper insight and more fruitful dialogue.”
Bishop Sipuka’s appointment is a continuation of his long-standing commitment to interfaith dialogue, justice, and reconciliation, as he has served as President of the SACBC, Vice President and Second Vice President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), and is currently President of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), the first Catholic to hold the position.
Throughout his ministry, Bishop Sipuka has championed peace initiatives in Gaza, Eswatini, and Mozambique, and has remained a committed voice for youth empowerment, ethical governance, and social justice across the African continent.
His work with the Dicastery is not new, as he has already collaborated with the Vatican in efforts to promote peace in the Holy Land. His vision of the Church as a community of unity in diversity aligns closely with the Dicastery’s mission.
Reflecting on what this appointment means for the region, Bishop Sipuka said, “In Southern Africa, it means we must learn to dialogue more with other religions. Christianity is the majority here, and we tend to talk among ourselves, forgetting that other faiths are also present.”
On a continental scale, he sees the appointment as a call to intensify interreligious engagement, particularly in the face of growing tensions and conflict.
“Some of the wars in Africa are ascribed to religious differences—even when that may not be the true cause. Regardless, religious communities must take a more active role in building peace and not leave it solely to politicians, who often have their own agendas.”
