Church Roman Catholic Church Term ended 11 February 2014 Created cardinal 19 November 2016 Consecration 2 April 1978 Rank Cardinal | See Mohale's Hoek Birth name Sebastian Koto Khoarai Ordination 21 December 1956 Diocese Mohale's Hoek Appointed 10 November 1977 | |
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Predecessor None; diocese established Other posts Cardinal-Priest of San Leonardo da Porto Maurizio ad Acilia (2016-) | ||
Lesotho celebrates its first cardinal his eminence sebastian koto khoarai
Sebastian Koto Khoarai, O.M.I. (born 11 September 1929) is a prelate of the Catholic Church and bishop emeritus of Mohale's Hoek, Lesotho. Khoarai was born in Koaling in the diocese of Leribe in 1929. He entered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and was ordained a priest in 1956.
He was appointed in 1977 as ordinary of Mohale's Hoek, receiving episcopal consecration in 1978. In May 2006, he submitted his resignation upon reaching the age limit, but remained as apostolic administrator of the diocese until February 2014. From 1982 to 1987 he served as president of the Episcopal Conference of Lesotho.
On October 9, 2016, Pope Francis announced that Khoarai would be created a cardinal on 19 November 2016 and become Lesotho's first cardinal. Khoarai is not eligible to vote in a conclave because he is over the age limit of 80. Because of his age he was unable to attend the consistory on 19 November., but he later received the biretta in Lesotho from the hands of the apostolic nuncio Peter Bryan Wells.
