New Priests’ Council in Southern Africa Lauded for Fostering Collaboration with Bishops

The Council of Priests (COP) of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference is working to improve cooperation between bishops and priests through a new collaborative structure. During a strategic planning meeting held September 9–11, COP Vice Chairperson Fr. Alex Beukes stated that the council was established by bishops to create a synodal body where priests can share experiences and concerns.

Fr. Beukes explained that the previous organization, the Southern African Council of Priests (SACOP), lacked sufficient collaboration between bishops and priests. While the former arrangement brought priests together for meetings, it did not provide enough space to address ministry issues within different dioceses. The COP aims to change this by allowing priests and bishops to work together to solve fundamental issues affecting the priesthood across Southern Africa.