Metropolitan Archdiocese of Johannesburg, South Africa

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Johannesburg / Ioannesburgen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Klerksdorp, Manzini, Witbank

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Immaculate Conception

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: November 25 (1960)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1886.06.04: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Transvaal / Transvaallen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Natal)
1904.09.16: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Transvaal / Transvaallen(sis) (Latin)
1910.12.22: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Transvaal
1923.06.12: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Lydenburg
1948.04.09: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Johannesburg / Ioannesburgen(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Pretoria)
1951.01.11: Promoted as Diocese of Johannesburg / Ioannesburgen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Pretoria)
1965.10.14: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Western Transvaal
2007.06.05: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Johannesburg / Ioannesburgen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Klerksdorp, Manzini and Witbank)

Contact Info

Address: Cathedral Place, 3 Saratoga Avenue, Berea, Johannesburg 2198, South Africa

Phone: (011) 402 6400

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1995.09)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2024.10.28 – ...):

Cardinal Stephen Brislin (68)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello

President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Apostolic Administrator of Cape Town (South Africa)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Johannesburg (Roman Rite)

Cardinal Stephen Brislin (68)
(2024.10.28 – ...)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello
Metropolitan Archbishop of Johannesburg (South Africa)
President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference
Apostolic Administrator of Cape Town (South Africa)

Veritas in caritate

Born:	1956.09.24 (Welkom, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1983.11.19
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.01.28
Created Cardinal:	2023.09.30

Priest of Kroonstad (South Africa) (1983.11.19 – 2006.10.17)

Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (2002.08.02 – 2006.10.17)

Bishop of Kroonstad (South Africa) (2006.10.17 – 2009.12.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Town (South Africa) (2009.12.18 – 2024.10.28)

President of Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (2012.08 – 2016.11)

President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2013.02 – 2019.02)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello (2023.09.30 [2024.05.12] – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Johannesburg (South Africa) (2024.10.28 – ...)

President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2025.01 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Cape Town (South Africa) (2025.01.31 – ...)

Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale, O.M.I. (77)
(2007.06.05 – 2024.10.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Johannesburg (South Africa)

Called to serve

Born:	1947.12.26 (Randfontein, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1976.08.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1999.04.10

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bloemfontein (South Africa) (1999.01.02 – 2003.04.08)

Archbishop-Bishop of Johannesburg (South Africa) (2003.04.08 – 2007.06.05)

President of Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (2004 – 2007)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Johannesburg (South Africa) (2007.06.05 – 2024.10.28)

President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2008.11 – 2011.10)

Apostolic Administrator of Klerksdorp (South Africa) (2013.04.26 – 2014.11.24)

Bishops of Johannesburg (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale, O.M.I. (77)
(2003.04.08 – 2007.06.05)

(see above)

Bishop Reginald Joseph Orsmond
(1984.07.02 – 2002.05.19)

Born:	1931.01.18 (South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1954.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1983.05.14
Died:	2002.05.19 († 71)

Titular Bishop of Assuras (1983.01.27 – 1984.07.02)

Auxiliary Bishop of Johannesburg (South Africa) (1983.01.27 – 1984.07.02)

Bishop of Johannesburg (South Africa) (1984.07.02 – 2002.05.19)

Archbishop Joseph Patrick Fitzgerald, O.M.I.
(1976.01.24 – 1984.07.02)

Born:	1914.01.07 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1940.05.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1966.10.18
Died:	1986.02.16 († 72)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bloemfontein (South Africa) (1966.08.06 – 1976.01.24)

President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1974 – 1981)

Archbishop-Bishop of Johannesburg (South Africa) (1976.01.24 – 1984.07.02)

President of Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (1979 – 1985)

Bishop Hugh Boyle
(1954.07.18 – 1976.01.24)

Born:	1897.12.13 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1923.12.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1949.02.02
Died:	1986.12.04 († 88)

Titular Bishop of Bagai (1948.12.09 – 1951.01.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Port Elizabeth (South Africa) (1948.12.09 – 1951.01.11)

Bishop of Port Elizabeth (South Africa) (1951.01.11 – 1954.07.18)

Bishop of Johannesburg (South Africa) (1954.07.18 – 1976.01.24)

Vicars Apostolic of Johannesburg (Roman Rite)

Bishop William Patrick Whelan, O.M.I. (later Archbishop)
(1950.11.25 – 1951.01.11)

Born:	1907.04.29 (South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1931.06.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1948.05.27
Died:	1966.01.10 († 58)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Johannesburg (South Africa) (1948.03.11 – 1950.11.25)

Titular Bishop of Legia (1948.03.11 – 1954.07.18)

Vicar Apostolic of Johannesburg (South Africa) (1950.11.25 – 1951.01.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bloemfontein (South Africa) (1954.07.18 – 1966.01.10)

Bishop David O’Leary, O.M.I.
(1925.05.13 – 1950.11.25)

Born:	1880.08.19
Ordained Priest:	1910.07.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1925.09.08
Died:	1958.08.12 († 77)

Vicar Apostolic of Johannesburg (South Africa) (1925.05.13 – 1950.11.25)

Titular Bishop of Fessei (1925.05.13 – 1958.08.12)

Vicars Apostolic of Transvaal (Roman Rite)

Bishop Charles Cox, O.M.I.
(1914.07.15 – 1924.07.14)

Born:	1848.05.29 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1873.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1914.10.28
Died:	1936.03.09 († 87)

Apostolic Administrator of Kimberley in South Africa (South Africa) (1914 – 1924)

Vicar Apostolic of Transvaal (South Africa) (1914.07.15 – 1924.07.14)

Titular Bishop of Dioclea (1914.07.15 – 1936.03.09)

Bishop William Miller, O.M.I.
(1904.09.17 – 1912.05.02)

Born:	1858.08.15 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1881.04.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1904.11.20
Died:	1927.11.09 († 69)

Vicar Apostolic of Transvaal (South Africa) (1904.09.17 – 1912.05.02)

Titular Bishop of Eumenia (1904.09.17 – 1927.11.09)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop William Patrick Whelan, O.M.I. (later Archbishop) (1948.03.11 – 1950.11.25)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Duncan Theodore Tsoke (60) (2016.02.06 – 2021.03.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Zithulele Patrick Mvemve (1986.03.10 – 1994.03.26)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Reginald Joseph Orsmond (1983.01.27 – 1984.07.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Peter Fanyana John Butelezi, O.M.I. (later Archbishop) (1972.07.30 – 1975.07.10)