In his January 13 reflection, Cardinal Brislin said that Archbishop Sipuka’s appointment has been warmly received by the people of God in the three-nation regional Conference that the Cardinal chairs, the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC).
“I, together with all the Catholics in Southern Africa, and many other people, wish you every grace, every blessing as you take on this new role,” Cardinal Brislin said.
He acknowledged the happiness among Catholics in Cape Town Archdiocese, extending his congratulations to the local Church. “I know that the people in Cape Town are delighted, and I congratulate them too on their new Archbishop,” Cardinal Brislin said.
He went on to assure Bishop Sipuka his continuous support as he assumes his new pastoral responsibility, saying, “May God bless you, Archbishop-elect Sipuka, and may He always guide you with His Holy Spirit. Whatever happens, we are always there to support you.”
The South African Archbishop-elect is the immediate former SACBC President; he has previously served as Assistant to the President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
He is the current Chairman of SACBC Finance Committee and the Catholic Board of Education.
On 4 July 2025, Bishop Sipuka was among the 22 new members appointed by Pope Leo XIV to the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Other African appointees to the Vatican Dicastery included Bishop Willybard Kitogho Lagho of Kenya and Bishop Ollo Modeste Kambou of Burkina Faso.
Sabrine Amboka is a Kenyan journalist with a passion for Catholic church communication. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from St. Paul’s University in Kenya.