Created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2016, the retired bishop of Mohale’s Hoek died on Saturday, April 17, at the age of 91.

By Robin Gomes (originally published on www.vaticannews.va)

Cardinal Sebastian Koto Khoarai, OMI

Cardinal Sebastian Koto KHOARAI, OMI was born on September 11, 1930, in Koaling, in the diocese of Leribe, in what was then the British colony of Basutoland.  He was baptized at the age of eleven, on December 12, 1940, at St. Paul’s Church in Butha-Buthe.  He studied philosophy and theology at the major seminary of Saint Augustine, in the city of Roma (Lesotho), in the territory of the archdiocese of Maseru, which was then the capital of the kingdom.

An O.M.I

He chose to join the congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and was admitted to the novitiate on January 5, 1950.  He made his religious profession on January 6, 1951.

Ordained a priest on December 21, 1956, he baptized his father two days later.  After holding several responsibilities in parishes and seminaries in the years in which the country was on its way to independence, the young priest was appointed the first national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Lesotho in 1975.

Bishop

As a young Bishop

On November 10, 1977, Paul VI elected him as the first bishop of the newly created diocese of Mohale’s Hoek.  He was consecrated bishop on April 2, 1978.  In the years that followed, Bishop Khoarai led his flock assiduously, with the number of baptisms growing by more than 20 percent.  Mohale’s Hoek Diocese also saw a healthy growth in vocations to the priesthood, so much so that the major seminary could not accommodate all the candidates.

From 1982 to 1987, Bishop Khoarai was president of the Lesotho Bishops’ Conference. Thanks to his action, as well as the efforts of other bishops, the Catholic Church has become the prime educator of the small landlocked nation within South Africa, with a population of some 2 million people.

In May 2006, he handed in his resignation having crossed the canonical retirement age of 75 by nearly two years.  However, he continued serving his diocese as apostolic administrator until Pope Francis accepted his resignation on February 11, 2014, at 84 years of age.  The same day, the Pope appointed Fr. John Joale Tlhomola, S.C.P., as the new bishop of Mohale’s Hoek.

First cardinal of Lesotho

At the consistory of November 19, 2016, Pope Francis created Khoarai Bishop a cardinal. At age 87, he became Lesotho’s first cardinal.  Unfortunately, his health did not permit him to come to the Vatican to receive the cardinal’s red hat and the ring from the Pope.

Following his death, the number of cardinals worldwide now stands at 224, of whom 126 are below the age of 80 and, hence, are eligible to vote for a new pope.

Telegram of the Holy Father

The Right Reverend John J. Tlhomola
Bishop of Mohale’s Hoek

Having learned with sadness of the death of cardinal Sebastian Koto Khoarai, I extend my heartfelt condolences to you and to the clergy, religious and laity of the diocese of MOHALE’S Hoek. With gratitude for Cardinal Khoarai’s witness of consecrated life as an oblate of Mary immaculate, his longstanding commitment to the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and his dedication to the church’s educational apostolate in Lesotho, I willingly join you in praying that our heavenly father may grant him the reward of his tireless labours and welcome his noble soul into the joy of his eternal kingdom. To all who mourn the late cardinal’s passing in the sure hope of the resurrection I cordially impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in Jesus Christ our Saviour.