German-born Catholic Bishop in South Africa Dies Aged 96, Elogized as “Bishop of the Laity, SCCs, Leadership Training”

Aliwal, 03 August, 2025 / 8:40 PM

Bishop Fritz Lobinger, Bishop emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Aliwal in South Africa, has died at the age of 96.

“It is with great sadness to announce the passing on of Bishop Emeritus Fritz Lobinger in the early hours of this morning,” the Chancellor of the South African Diocese says in a statement issued Sunday, August 3.

Fr. Mlulami Matiwane adds, “Funeral arrangements will follow after all necessary consultations have been made.”

“May God of all consolation be our strength as the Church of Southern Africa,” he implores.

Born in January 1929, in Passau, in Bavaria at the German border to Austria, late Bishop Lobinger was ordained a Priest in nearby Regensburg in June 1955. 

He was appointed Apostolic Administrator for Aliwal North Diocese in December 1986, and was ordained its Bishop in February 1987. 

In a statement issued August 3, the leadership of the Catholic Diocese of Kokstad remembers the late Bishop for dedicating his life to the Church in South Africa.

“Fondly remembered as the Bishop of the laity, Small Christian Communities (SCCs) and leadership training, Bishop Lobinger dedicated his life to the service of the Church and the empowerment of the faithful,” Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa says in the statement.

He implores, “May his soul rest in eternal peace. Please keep his family, friends, and the Diocese of Aliwal in your prayers.”

In his tribute to the late Bishop during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of his Priestly ordination in October 2024, Bishop Joseph Mary Kizito of Aliwal Diocese said, “Bishop Lobinger served the Diocese from 1987 until his retirement in 2004.”

He added, “Many years ago, Bishop Lobinger anticipated the need for a synodal Church in the Bishops’ pastoral plan. He envisioned a Church that prays, speaks out, listens, discusses issues at the table, discerns, analyses, dialogues, celebrates, and journeys together in communion, participation, and mission.”

Bishop Kizito further said, “Many churches were built under his leadership.”

He said, “Bishop Lobinger consistently championed the empowerment of the laity, believing that local involvement strengthens faith. He also supported youth and women in taking leadership roles.”

“As pastoral Priests, Lobinger produced 23 slide-and-tape series in six local languages to encourage lay participation in the liturgy. Bishop Lobinger excelled in inculturation, ensuring that faith was rooted in local culture, and supported the community’s creativity in designing their liturgies,” he adds.

Bishop Kizito further shared that the late Bishop “transformed the traditional procedure of blessing the Holy Oils in the cathedral by introducing a rotation model across parishes, allowing the faithful to experience this essential annual liturgy.”

“After apartheid, he played an active role in the reconciliation process, also educating people about the importance of voting and the need for identification to participate in elections,” the Catholic Church leader said.