Ad Limina Visits: Bishops of Namibia, Mali and Lesotho
In November, the Bishops of the Episcopal Conferences of Namibia, Mali and Lesotho came to Rome for Ad Limina visits to the Holy See and, on this occasion, took part in two meetings at the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The Bishops of Namibia and Lesotho came on 7 November 2024 and the Bishops of Mali on 11 November 2024.
These occasions allowed the representatives of the three bishops’ conferences to illustrate the situation of consecrated life in their countries, emphasizing its essential contribution to the mission of the Church and the needs of society.
Consecrated Life in Mali
Consecrated life in Mali is expressed through the presence of 29 congregations –25 female religious institutes, three male religious institutes and one Society of Apostolic Life– which run 87 religious houses in the country. Consecrated women and men are actively involved in education, health, social promotion, and pastoral care.
The reality of Namibia
Consecrated men and women in Namibia work in various fields, including education and social development. CORLIN (Conference of Religious Leaders in Namibia), brings together the 13 women’s congregations and men’s institutes. It constitutes a body of communion that collaborates with the Bishops’ Conference to address the challenges of the country’s social reality and promote greater coordination of pastoral activities.
The situation in Lesotho
Consecrated life in Lesotho is represented by 5 male and 11 female congregations. Consecrated women are particularly active in more than 80 percent of the country’s parishes, contributing to pastoral and social activities. The Lesotho Conference of Major Superiors coordinates the activities of the institutes and works closely with the Bishops’ Conference, addressing issues connected with education, health, and interfaith relations.
A shared vision
These meetings reaffirmed the value of consecrated life as a vital element for evangelization and human development in the three countries and a concrete sign of the Church’s presence in local realities.
