Diocese of

Manzini

Eswatini

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Manzini / Manzinien(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Johannesburg

Neighbouring Dioceses: Dundee (↙), Witbank (↖), Maputo (↗), Ingwavuma (↘), Eshowe (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Joseph

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1923.04.19: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Swaziland (from Apostolic Vicariate of Natal)
1939.03.15: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Swaziland
1951.01.11: Promoted as Diocese of Bremersdorp (became suffragan of Pretoria)
1958.06.23: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Volksrust
1961.11.07: Renamed as Diocese of Manzini / Manzinien(sis) (Latin)
1962.11.12: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Ingwavuma
2007.06.05: Became suffragan of Johannesburg

Contact Info

Address: PO Box 19, Manzini, Eswatini

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1988.09)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2013.11.29 – ...):

Bishop José Luís Gerardo Ponce de León, I.M.C. (64)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Manzini (Roman Rite)

Bishop José Luís Gerardo Ponce de León, I.M.C. (64)
(2013.11.29 – ...)

Bishop of Manzini (Eswatini)

IZwi laba yinyama

Born:	1961.05.08 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1986.08.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.04.18

Titular Bishop of Maturba (2008.11.24 – 2013.11.29)

Vicar Apostolic of Ingwavuma (South Africa) (2008.11.24 – 2013.11.29)

Apostolic Administrator of Manzini (Eswatini) (2012.09 – 2013.11.29)

Apostolic Administrator of Ingwavuma (South Africa) (2013.11.29 – 2016.04.30)

Bishop of Manzini (Eswatini) (2013.11.29 – ...)

Bishop José Luís Gerardo Ponce de León, I.M.C. (64)
(Apostolic Administrator 2012.09 – 2013.11.29)

Bishop Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu, O.S.M.
(1985.07.01 – 2012.08.27)

Fons pacis justitia

Born:	1945.03.15 (Enkaba, Eswatini)
Ordained Priest:	1978.05.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1985.10.12
Died:	2012.08.27 († 67)

Apostolic Administrator of Manzini (Eswatini) (1981.02.20 – 1985.07.01)

Bishop of Manzini (Eswatini) (1985.07.01 – 2012.08.27)

President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1993 – 1999)

President of Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (2001 – 2003)

Fr. Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu, O.S.M. (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1981.02.20 – 1985.07.01)

Bishop Aloysius Isaac Mandlenkhosi Zwane
(1976.01.24 – 1980.08.10)

Born:	1932.05.06 (Msunduza, Eswatini)
Ordained Priest:	1964.07.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.05.16
Died:	1980.08.10 († 48)

Bishop of Manzini (Eswatini) (1976.01.24 – 1980.08.10)

Bishop Girolamo Maria Casalini, O.S.M.
(1965.12.18 – 1976.01.24)

Born:	1915.12.17 (Siena, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1938.06.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1966.02.12
Died:	1982.08.28 († 66)

Bishop of Manzini (Eswatini) (1965.12.18 – 1976.01.24)

Bishop Costantino Maria Attilio Barneschi, O.S.M.
(1961.11.07 – 1965.05.21)

Born:	1892.06.24 (Foiano della Chiana, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1919.09.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1939.04.30
Died:	1965.05.21 († 72)

Titular Bishop of Thagaste (1939.03.15 – 1951.01.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Swaziland (Eswatini) (1939.03.15 – 1951.01.11)

Bishop of Bremersdorp (Eswatini) (1951.01.11 – 1961.11.07)

Bishop of Manzini (Eswatini) (1961.11.07 – 1965.05.21)

Bishops of Bremersdorp (Roman Rite)

Bishop Costantino Maria Attilio Barneschi, O.S.M.
(1951.01.11 – 1961.11.07)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Swaziland (Roman Rite)

Bishop Costantino Maria Attilio Barneschi, O.S.M.
(1939.03.15 – 1951.01.11)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Swaziland (Roman Rite)

Msgr. Romualdo Migliorini, O.S.M.
(1933.07.08 – 1939)

Died:

1939

Prefect Apostolic of Swaziland (Eswatini) (1933.07.08 – 1939)

Msgr. Pellegrino Bellezze, O.S.M.
(1923.03.15 – 1933.05)

Born:	1884.01.10
Ordained Priest:	1907.12.21
Died:	1961.08.18 († 77)

Prefect Apostolic of Swaziland (Eswatini) (1923.03.15 – 1933.05)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption, Manzini, Manzini

Churches by City (18)

Dundee (↙), Witbank (↖), Maputo (↗), Ingwavuma (↘), Eshowe (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 17,000 km²

Population: 57,630 Catholics (5.3% of 1,084,900 total)

Pastoral Centres: 17 parishes, 103 missions

Personnel: 25 priests (16 diocesan, 9 religious), 53 religious (15 brothers, 38 sisters), 3 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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