Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi

Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, Archbishop of Maseru, was born on February 12, 1954, at Maphiring, in Mokhotlong, at the mission of St. James in the Diocese of Qacha's Nek, and he belongs to the royal house of Lesotho. He entered the novitiate of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate at Quthing in 1975, made his first profession on January 25, 1976, and made his perpetual vows on January 1, 1981. He studied philosophy at St. Augustine's major seminary at Roma, near Maseru, and theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and he afterwards obtained a licentiate in sacred scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. He was ordained a priest on January 3, 1982. He was a professor at St. Augustine's major seminary from 1982 to 1987, and from 1987 to 1995 he studied for a doctorate in sacred theology at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, remaining there from 1995 to 1999 as an assistant in an Oblate house of formation. From 1999 he was a professor at the National University of Lesotho and a member of its supreme council, superior of the Pius XII College House, a professor at St. Augustine's seminary and Catholic chaplain of the National University. On June 30, 2009, he was appointed Archbishop of Maseru. He received episcopal ordination on September 12, 2009, with Bernard Mosiuoa Mohlalisi as principal consecrator and Evaristus Thatho Bitsoane and Sebastian Koto Khoarai as co-consecrators.