The founding Bishop of Mamfe has died after a lifetime of priestly and episcopal service, leaving behind a legacy that helped shape the Catholic Church in south-western Cameroon and beyond.
The Catholic Church in Cameroon is mourning the death of Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge, the founding Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe, whose quiet leadership and deep spirituality helped establish one of the country’s youngest dioceses and influenced generations of priests.
The Diocese of Mamfe announced on 29 July 2026 that Bishop Lysinge died at 11:30 a.m. at St. John of God Health Centre, Mamfe. In a pastoral letter addressed to priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful, Bishop Aloysius Abangalo Fondong described his predecessor as a shepherd whose entire ministry was guided by the Marian prayer, Fiat voluntas tua (“Thy will be done”).
Communiqué from the diocese of Mamfe anounces de passing away of Bishop Emeritus Francis Teke Lysinge on July 29 2026
“Whenever that will was made known to him, he lived it out with fidelity, courage, simplicity and joy,” Bishop Abangalo wrote.
The announcement comes less than a year after the Catholic Church in Cameroon mourned Bishop Emeritus Adalbert Ndzana of Mbalmayo, who died in September 2025. The successive passing of two emeritus bishops marks the gradual departure of a generation of Church leaders who helped consolidate diocesan structures, strengthen priestly formation and guide the post-Vatican II growth of the Catholic Church in Cameroon. Their ministries continue to influence the Church’s pastoral life today.
A Founding Shepherd of the Diocese of Mamfe
Born on 28 December 1938 in Muea, in Cameroon’s South-West Region, Francis Teke Lysinge was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Buea on 17 April 1966. Following years of pastoral ministry and priestly formation, Pope John Paul II appointed him the first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Mamfe on 9 February 1999.
He received episcopal ordination on 21 April 1999 from Cardinal Christian Wiyghan Tumi, assisted by Archbishop Paul Verdzekov of Bamenda and Bishop Pius Suh Awa of Buea.
His appointment coincided with the birth of the Diocese of Mamfe, carved out of the Diocese of Buea to bring pastoral care closer to the faithful of Manyu Division and neighbouring communities. During his fifteen years as diocesan bishop, he laid the foundations of the young local Church by strengthening parish structures, promoting evangelisation, encouraging vocations and building diocesan institutions that continue to serve the faithful.
Following his retirement in January 2014, he was succeeded by Bishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya, now Metropolitan Archbishop of Bamenda and President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon.
A Ministry That Reached Beyond Mamfe
Although Bishop Lysinge is remembered as the founding Bishop of Mamfe, his contribution extended far beyond the diocese.
Before his episcopal appointment, he played an important role in priestly formation, notably as Spiritual Director of St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Bambui. Through that ministry, he accompanied and formed generations of seminarians, many of whom now serve as priests and bishops across Cameroon.
His influence therefore reached well beyond the communities he directly shepherded, helping shape the spiritual and pastoral formation of clergy serving throughout the country.
His episcopal motto, Fiat Voluntas Tua (“Thy Will Be Done”), was more than a personal ideal. According to the Diocese of Mamfe, it reflected a life rooted in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and unwavering fidelity to God’s will.
Remembering a Life of Faith and Service
In its tribute, the Diocese of Mamfe thanked God for Bishop Lysinge’s “strong faith”, “wisdom”, “vision” and “servant leadership”, virtues that helped define the identity of the young diocese during its formative years.
Bishop Abangalo has called upon priests and faithful throughout the diocese to offer Masses and prayers for the peaceful repose of the late bishop’s soul while awaiting the official funeral programme.
His death also comes as the Diocese of Mamfe continues its pastoral mission amid the humanitarian and security challenges affecting Cameroon’s South-West Region. Throughout those difficult years, the Church has remained committed to evangelisation, education, healthcare and peacebuilding.
A Legacy That Will Endure
For many Catholics, Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge will be remembered not only as the first Bishop of Mamfe, but also as a humble servant of the Gospel whose ministry was marked by prayer, simplicity and fidelity.
His legacy lives on in the parishes he helped establish, the priests he helped form and the faithful he served with quiet dedication. As the Church in Cameroon awaits the official funeral programme and, in due course, an expected national tribute from the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, Catholics across the country give thanks for the life of a shepherd whose service spanned six decades and whose influence reached far beyond the Diocese of Mamfe.
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Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge was the founding Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe in Cameroon. Ordained a priest in 1966, he was appointed the first Bishop of Mamfe by Pope John Paul II in 1999 and led the diocese until his retirement in 2014. He was widely respected for his spirituality, servant leadership and commitment to priestly formation.
Bishop Lysinge helped establish and strengthen the Diocese of Mamfe during its formative years by developing parishes, promoting vocations and supporting Catholic education. Before becoming bishop, he also served as Spiritual Director of St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Bambui, where he helped form generations of priests serving dioceses across Cameroon.
Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge died on 29 July 2026 at St. John of God Health Centre in Mamfe. Following the announcement by the Diocese of Mamfe, Catholics have been invited to offer prayers and Masses for the repose of his soul while awaiting the official funeral programme.
