Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 2: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr Simon Almeida, 64, as the new bishop of Poona, filling the vacancy created after Bishop John Rodrigues was appointed 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.
Born on November 4, 1960, in Gass, Bhatori, Fr Almeida completed his schooling at St Gonsalo Garcia Primary School and Holy Cross High School, Nirmal. In 1978, he joined Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary in Pune and later pursued his philosophical and theological formation at St. Pius X College, Mumbai. He was ordained a priest on April 1, 1990, for the diocese of Poona.
Fr Almeida holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Bombay. He further enhanced his pastoral and leadership skills by completing 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), and a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines (2000–2002).
During his 35 years of priestly ministry, Fr Almeida has held a wide range of pastoral and administrative roles within the Diocese of Poona. He served as assistant parish priest at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Pune (1990–1994), and St. Ignatius Parish, Kirkee (1994–1996). Between 1996 and 2000, he was appointed in-charge of diocesan youth, before becoming rector of Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary, Pune (2002–2003).
He later served as parish priest of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Pune (2003–2008), and St. Francis Xavier Parish, Chinchwad (2008–2013). He also held the position of financial administrator of the diocese from 2010 to 2015. From 2013 to 2019, he was parish priest of St Anne’s Church, Sholapur Bazaar, and from 2019 to 2023, he served as parish priest of St John Paul II Church, Wakad.
Since 2023, Fr Almeida has been the regional deputy secretary of the Western Region Bishops’ Council, and since June 2025, he has been serving as parish priest of St Joseph’s Church, Ghorpuri, Pune.
Fr Almeida has been a member of the diocesan priests’ council for two terms and has served as a diocesan consultor since 2006. Reflecting on his ministry, a diocesan representative described him as “a pastor deeply committed to service, formation, and faith leadership, whose humility and administrative experience make him well-suited to shepherd the Diocese of Poona.”
The Diocese of Poona currently includes 92,360 Catholics, 42 parishes, 64 diocesan priests, 135 religious priests, and 300 religious sisters. It covers the civil districts of Pune, Satara, Solapur, Sangli, and Kolhapur city in Maharashtra.
The vicariate of Poona was established on March 8, 1854, and later elevated to the status of a diocese on September 1, 1886.