By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Cardinal Stephen Brislin has been installed as the Catholic Church Archbishop for Johannesburg on Saturday.
The service was held at Saint Benedict’s College in Bedfordview in Gauteng.
Among the attendees was Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, African National Congress (ANC) first SG Nomvula Mokonyane, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and former finance minister Trevor Manuel.
Brislin previously served as the Archbishop of Cape Town for 15 years, and before that he was the Bishop of Kroonstad between 2007 and 2009.
He takes over from Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, who is retiring.
In September last year, Cardinal Brislin was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis.
Cardinals are primarily the closest advisers to the pope and members of the College of Cardinals.
Another task of the cardinals is to gather when a pope dies or retires, to elect a new one who is usually one of them. Even though, technically, any Roman Catholic male in good standing with the church can be elected pope, the pope has been selected from the cardinals since 1379. Upon turning 80, cardinals can no longer vote in a conclave.
Brislin and other African cardinals will be a voice, bringing the Vatican and the pope’s attention to the Catholic Church and continent’s struggles.
The South African Catholic Church has decided to work towards becoming a self-sustaining church, both financially and in personnel. Other bishops will look to Brislin for direction and support in attaining these goals.
The 68-year-old Cardinal was ordained a Priest in 1983, after completing his studies in philosophy at St John Vianney, Pretoria and Theology at the London Missionary Institute.
In compliance with Canon 418 ẟ1, the newly appointed Archbishop must take possession of the Archdiocese within two months from the day of the appointment.