Pope Leo XIV Appoints Fr Simon Almeida as New Bishop of Poona

Nov 2025 : In a significant development for the Catholic Church in India, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr Simon Almeida, 64, as the new Bishop of Poona, filling the vacancy that arose after Bishop John Rodrigues was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Bombay on November 30, 2024.

Fr Almeida currently serves as the deputy secretary of the Western Regional Bishops’ Council and parish priest of St Joseph’s Church, Ghorpuri, Pune. Widely respected for his pastoral leadership and administrative experience, he will now take on the responsibility of shepherding one of Maharashtra’s key dioceses.

Born on November 4, 1960, in Gass, Bhatori, Fr Almeida completed his early education at St Gonsalo Garcia Primary School and Holy Cross High School, Nirmal. He joined Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary in Pune in 1978, beginning his journey toward priesthood. He later pursued his philosophical and theological training at St. Pius X College, Mumbai, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Poona on April 1, 1990.

Fr Almeida’s academic accomplishments are extensive. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Bombay. Seeking to deepen his pastoral and leadership abilities, he completed a diploma in Foundations for Pastoral Renewal and Steward Leadership in the Church of the Poor at the East Asian Pastoral Institute, Manila (2000–2001), followed by a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines (2000–2002).

Over the course of 35 years of priestly ministry, Fr Almeida has undertaken a wide range of pastoral, administrative, and formation roles within the Diocese of Poona. He began as assistant parish priest at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Pune (1990–1994) and St Ignatius Parish, Kirkee (1994–1996). From 1996 to 2000, he served as the diocesan youth in-charge, before becoming rector of Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary (2002–2003).

He went on to lead several major parishes, including St Patrick’s Cathedral (2003–2008), St Francis Xavier Parish, Chinchwad (2008–2013), St Anne’s Church, Sholapur Bazaar (2013–2019), and St John Paul II Church, Wakad (2019–2023). Alongside parish responsibilities, Fr Almeida served as financial administrator of the diocese from 2010 to 2015.

Since 2023, he has held the post of regional deputy secretary of the Western Region Bishops’ Council and, since June 2025, has served as parish priest of St Joseph’s Church, Ghorpuri.

Fr Almeida has also been a member of the diocesan priests’ council for two terms and has served as a diocesan consultor since 2006. A diocesan official described him as “a pastor deeply committed to service, formation, and faith leadership, whose humility and administrative skill make him ideally suited to guide the Diocese of Poona.”

The Diocese of Poona comprises 92,360 Catholics, 42 parishes, 64 diocesan priests, 135 religious priests, and 300 religious sisters, covering the civil districts of Pune, Satara, Solapur, Sangli, and Kolhapur city. The vicariate of Poona was established on March 8, 1854, and elevated to a diocese on September 1, 1886.