Media Release

Bengaluru, Mar 26: His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev John Rodrigues (56), Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay, as Bishop of Poona. This provision has been made public in Rome on Saturday 25 h March 2023.

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation Rev Thomas Dabre (77), Bishop of Poona from the pastoral care of the diocese.

Bishop John Rodrigues was born on 21 August 1967 in Mumbai and was ordained priest on 18 April 1998 for the Archdiocese of Bombay. After his ordination, he has been assistant parish priest at St Michael Church, Mahim (1998-1999), secretary of the Archbishop of Bombay (1999-2000), professor of Systematic Theology, St Pius X College, (2002-2011), secretary of the Priests' Council, Archdiocese of Bombay (2010-2013), dean of the studies, St Pius X College (2011-2013), Archdiocesan Co-ordinator of the "Year of Faith" (2012-2013). Since 2013 he was the Rector of St Pius X College.

He obtained a Licentiate in Systematic Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome (2000-2002). He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay on 15 May 2013 and ordained Bishop on 29 June 2013. He is the member Bishop of the CCBI Commission for Bible from 2019 onwards. He is presently the Rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra, Mumbai.