Fr. Agnelo Pinheiro Appointed Bishop of Sindhudurg

New Delhi, February 2026 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Rev. Francisco Antonio Agnelo Jacinto Pinheiro, a priest of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. The appointment was officially announced on 14 February 2026, marking a new chapter in the pastoral journey of the diocese.

Fr. Pinheiro, widely known as Fr. Agnelo, is 53 years old and hails from Raia in Goa, where he was born on 6 July 1972. His early academic promise was evident when he secured fourth rank in the Goa State XII Board Examination in 1990. After completing his SSC in 1988, he entered the minor seminary and pursued higher secondary studies in Mapusa, laying a strong foundation for his priestly vocation.

He began his formal priestly formation in June 1991 at the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol. Between 1993 and 1996, Fr. Pinheiro pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa, graduating with distinction. He was ordained a priest on 28 October 2000 and began his ministry as Assistant Parish Priest at St. Alex Church, Calangute.

Following his ordination, Fr. Pinheiro underwent pastoral training at the Pastoral Institute St. Pius X, Old Goa, from 2001 to 2002. His academic pursuits continued alongside pastoral responsibilities. In 2004, he earned a Master’s degree in Philosophy from Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, after which he was appointed Professor of Philosophy at Rachol Seminary. His commitment to theological scholarship led him to doctoral studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 2013 to 2016.

Returning to Goa in June 2017, Fr. Pinheiro resumed teaching philosophy at the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, a role he continues to fulfill. He also served as Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph’s Church, Dramapur, from June 2022 to May 2023. Since 2018, he has been entrusted with the Apostolate of Inter-Religious Dialogue in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, earning wide respect for fostering understanding and harmony among diverse faith communities.

The Diocese of Sindhudurg was erected on 5 July 2005 after being separated from the Diocese of Poona. Initially placed under the Archdiocese of Bombay, it was transferred in 2006 to the Metropolitan Province of Goa and Damão by Pope Benedict XVI. The diocese spans approximately 21,099 square kilometres, covering Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts and parts of Kolhapur, with Sawantwadi as its largest town.

The episcopal see had remained vacant since the resignation of Anthony Alwyn Fernandes Barreto on 8 October 2024. Currently, the diocese comprises about 35,974 Catholics, served by 47 diocesan priests, 58 religious priests, and 120 religious sisters across 43 parishes. Fr. Agnelo Pinheiro’s appointment is expected to bring renewed pastoral energy and scholarly depth to the growing diocese.

Dr. Stephen Alathara