Johannesburg, 08 December, 2025 / 3:20 pm (ACI Africa).
Late Bishop Edward Gabriel Risi, widely remembered for advancing liturgical renewal at the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC), has also been eulogized for his “significant contribution” to the formation of exorcists in the three-nation Conference. He died on December 4, aged 76.
In a tribute to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Keimoes-Upington issued on Friday, December 5, SACBC President, Stephen Cardinal Brislin, eulogizes the late Bishop for helping to strengthen the liturgical practice and formation of exorcists in Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa to global standards.
During his tenure as the third Episcopal Member of the Department for Ecumenism, and as Chairperson of the Department for Christian Formation, Liturgy and Culture, Bishop Risi “made a significant contribution to the ministry and formation of exorcists in the SACBC region,” Cardinal Brislin says.
“Bishop Risi will be remembered throughout the Conference for his unwavering passion for Liturgy, his deep devotion to the Church's tradition, and his tireless commitment to the formation of clergy and laity,” the South African Cardinal adds.
The Local Ordinary of South Africa's Johannesburg Catholic Archdiocese says that the late Bishop’s leadership “ensured that the SACBC remained among the most up-to-date Conferences in the world regarding liturgical matters.”
