Elevation to diocese of the apostolic vicariate of Francistown, Botswana, and appointment of first bishop
The Holy Father has elevated to the level of diocese the apostolic vicariate of Francistown, Botswana, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Pretoria, South Africa.
The Pope has appointed as first bishop of the diocese of Francistown, H.E. Msgr. Franklyn Atese Nubuasah, S.D.V., currently vicar apostolic of the same see.
Statistical data of the diocese of Francistown
The diocese of Francistown is one of two ecclesiastical circumscriptions in Botswana. It covers all the northern centre of the country, an area of 472,995 km2, equivalent to two thirds of the entire territory (600,370 km2). It has a population of 1,2000,000 inhabitants, of whom only 17,000 are Catholics (1.4%), distributed among 17 parishes. There are 26 priests, assisted by 28 women religious belonging to six different Congregations and by one religious brother.
