Bishop Anthony Rebello of Francistown Botswana passes on

The Bishop of the Diocese of Francistown in Botswana, Most Rev. Anthony Rebello has been reported dead.

Reports indicate that the Bishop collapsed during Mass earlier today, May 4 and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

In May 2022, the Bishop, a member of the Divine Word Missionaries was reported to have been “badly injured” following an attack by robbers on the night of Friday, April 29.

Members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) say they are saddened by the passing of the Bishop. Extending “heartfelt condolences to the Diocese of Francistown, the Society of Divine Word, and the biological family.”

In July 2021, Bishop Rebello was appointed Local Ordinary of Francistown Diocese that had been vacant since June 2019, when Archbishop Franklyn (Frank) Atese Nubuasah was transferred to the Diocese of Gaborone.

The native of India who was born in Nairobi was ordained a Priest of the SVD, also called Divine Word Missionaries, in May 1977.

He was among the three pioneer SVD members in Kenya in 1984; they opened their first mission in Kayole in Kenya’s Nairobi Archdiocese and later, Galba Tulla mission in Meru Diocese.

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An alumnus of the Rome-based Pontifical Gregorian University, Bishop Rebello previously served as the Provincial Superior of the SVDs in Kenya and Parish Vicar in Angola.

Prior to his appointment as Bishop, he served as the Parish Priest of Holy Cross Mogoditshane Parish of Gaborone Diocese.