Diocese of Francistown, Botswana 🇧🇼

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Name: Francistown / Francistaunen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Pretoria

Neighbouring Dioceses: Windhoek (←), Rundu (↖), Hwange (↑), Bulawayo (↗), Tzaneen (↘), Polokwane (↘), Rustenburg (↓), Gaborone (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Our Lady of the Desert, Saint Francis of Assisi

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1998.06.27: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Francistown / Francistaunen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Gaborone and became suffragan of Bloemfontein)
2007.06.05: Became suffragan of Pretoria
2017.10.02: Promoted as Diocese of Francistown / Francistaunen(sis) (Latin)

Contact Info

Address: Plot 14061 Tsie Street, Area W, PO Box 702, Francistown, Botswana

Phone: (00267) 241 3601

Present Prelates

Bishop (2026.04.10 – ...):

Bishop-elect Lawrence Ofentse Pheto (50)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Francistown (Roman Rite)

Bishop-elect Lawrence Ofentse Pheto (50)
(2026.04.10 – ...)

Bishop of Francistown (Botswana)

Born:	1976.03.12 (Ramotswa, Botswana)
Ordained Priest:	2005.10.08

Priest of Gaborone (Botswana) (2005.10.08 – 2026.04.10)

Bishop of Francistown (Botswana) (2026.04.10 – ...)

Fr. Gabriel Lionel Afagbegee, S.V.D.
(Apostolic Administrator 2024.05.22 – 2026.04.10)

Bishop Anthony Pascal Rebello, S.V.D.
(2021.07.05 – 2024.05.04)

Vocantur ad servitium præstandum

Born:	1950.03.18 (Nairobi, Kenya)
Ordained Priest:	1977.05.10
Consecrated Bishop:	2021.09.04
Died:	2024.05.04 (Tati Siding, Botswana † 74)

Bishop of Francistown (Botswana) (2021.07.05 – 2024.05.04)

Bishop Franklyn Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D. (76) (later Archbishop)
(2017.10.02 – 2019.06.06)

Bishop of Gaborone (Botswana)
Archbishop ad personam

Servus Domini

Born:	1949.07.07 (Likpe Abozome, Ghana)
Ordained Priest:	1980.07.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.11.07

Titular Bishop of Pauzera (1998.06.27 – 2017.10.02)

Vicar Apostolic of Francistown (Botswana) (1998.06.27 – 2017.10.02)

Apostolic Administrator of Gaborone (Botswana) (2017.08.09 – 2019.06.06)

Bishop of Francistown (Botswana) (2017.10.02 – 2019.06.06)

Bishop of Gaborone (Botswana) (2019.06.06 – ...)

Archbishop ad personam (2021.07.05 – ...)

Vicars Apostolic of Francistown (Roman Rite)

Bishop Franklyn Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D. (76) (later Archbishop)
(1998.06.27 – 2017.10.02)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Desert, Francistown

Windhoek (←), Rundu (↖), Hwange (↑), Bulawayo (↗), Tzaneen (↘), Polokwane (↘), Rustenburg (↓), Gaborone (↓)

Statistics (2020.12.31)

Area: 472,995 km²

Population: 31,100 Catholics (2.4% of 1,306,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 17 parishes

Personnel: 29 priests (13 diocesan, 16 religious), 48 religious (16 brothers, 32 sisters), 4 seminarians