India, Nov. 1 -- Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr Simon Almeida, 65, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Poona. Fr Almeida, who currently serves as deputy secretary of the Western Regional Bishops' Council and Parish Priest of St Joseph's Church in Ghorpadi, will succeed Bishop John Rodrigues, who was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Bombay in November 2024.

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. He joined Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary in Pune in 1978 and pursued philosophical and theological studies at St. Pius X College, Mumbai. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Poona on April 1, 1990.

Fr Almeida holds a Bachelor's d...