South Africa’s relations with The Holy See were formally established in March 1994 by an agreement signed between former President Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II. The South African Embassy in the Holy See opened in 2016, however it closed in 2021. The Holy See maintains formal Bilateral and Diplomatic relations with over 200 Countries through its Apostolic Nuncios who are the Pope’s Ambassadors accredited to the various countries. It also participates in intergovernmental organisations such as the United Nations, European Union, African Union and the Organisation of American States.
To talk more to us about developments between the two, His Excellency, Archbishop Msgr H M Jagodzinski was in studio with Thelma Hlongwane. He is the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See (The Vatican) to Southern Africa, also accredited to Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia.