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.

His Eminence Sebastian Koto Khoarai O.M.I.
Cardinal, Bishop-Emeritus of Mohale's Hoek
Church	Roman Catholic Church
Diocese	Mohale's Hoek
See	Mohale's Hoek
Appointed	10 November 1977
Term ended	11 February 2014
Predecessor	None; diocese established
Other posts	Cardinal-Priest of San Leonardo da Porto Maurizio ad Acilia (2016-)
Orders
Ordination	21 December 1956
Consecration	2 April 1978 by Alfonso Liguori Morapeli
Created cardinal	19 November 2016 by Pope Francis
Rank	Cardinal Priest
Personal details
Birth name	Sebastian Koto Khoarai
Born	11 September 1929 Koaling, Lesotho
Previous post	President of the Episcopal Conference of Lesotho (1982-1987)
Coat of arms

Ordination history of Sebastian Koto Khoarai
History Priestly ordination Date 21 December 1956 Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Alfonso Liguori Morapeli Co-consecrators Joseph Patrick Fitzgerald Paul Khoarai Date 2 April 1978 Cardinalate Elevated by Pope Francis Date 19 November 2016
Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Sebastian Koto Khoarai as principal consecrator John Joale Tlhomola, SCD 10 May 2014

Styles of Sebastian Koto Khoarai, OMI
Reference style	His Eminence
Spoken style	Your Eminence
Informal style	Cardinal

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. Due to his age he was unable to attend the consistory on 19 November,[1] but he later received the biretta in Lesotho from the apostolic nuncio Peter Bryan Wells.[2]

References

1. McElwee, Joshua J. (19 November 2016). "Creating new cardinals, Francis warns against 'virus of polarization' in the church". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
2. Andrea, Tornielli (19 November 2016). "Concistoro per 17 nuovi cardinali, San Pietro si tinge di porpora". La Stampa. Retrieved 20 November 2016.

External links

• "Khoarai Card. Sebastian Koto, O.M.I." Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
• "Lesotho: Mgr Sebastian Koto Khoarai, premier cardinal de l'histoire du pays". Zenit (in French). 20 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2017.