Pope Announces Several Episcopal Appointments

Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Shillong, India

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Victor Lyngdoh of Jowai as metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese of Shillong, India.

Appointment of bishop of Bridgetown, Barbados

The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Bridgetown, Barbados, the Reverend Neil Sebastian Scantlebury, of the clergy of Saint Thomas of the Virgin Islands, United States of America, until now chancellor of the same diocese and parish priest of the Saint Ann parish, in the island of Saint Croix.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Neil Sebastian Scantlebury was born on 1 October 1965 in Barbados. After receiving a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of the West Indies at Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, he transferred to the American Virgin Islands. He continued his formation at Mount Saint Mary’s University of Emmitsburg, Maryland, United States of America, where in 1999 he was also awarded a Master of Arts in sacred scripture. Besides English and the Creole language, he knows Latin, Spanish, and French.

He was ordained a priest on 18 May 1995 for the clergy of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands, United States of America.

Since ordination he has held the following offices: parish vicar of the Holy Family Church, Saint Thomas (1995-1997); parish administrator and parish priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint John (1997-2003); chancellor of the diocese (2000-2003); rector of the Cathedral (2003-2009); and parish priest of the Holy Family Church, Saint Thomas (2009-2020). From 2009 to the present he has served as chancellor of the diocese and, since 2020, parish priest of the Saint Ann parish, in the Island of Saint Croix.

In addition, he has participated in several Councils: of Caritas, for the protection of minors, and the teaching group of the Saints Peter and Paul High School, where he taught mathematics and theology.

Appointment of bishop of Malindi, Kenya

The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Malindi, Kenya, the Reverend Msgr. Wilybard Lagho, of the clergy of Mombasa, until now vicar general of the same metropolitan archdiocese.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Wilybard Lagho was born on 23 March 1858 in Taita-Taveta, in the metropolitan archdiocese of Mombasa. He studied philosophy at Saint Augustine’s Senior Seminary of Mabanga, diocese of Bungoma, in the years 1980 to 1982, and theology at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary of Nairobi from 1982 to 1986.

He was ordained a priest on 25 April 1997, and incardinated in the metropolitan archdiocese of Mombasa.

He subsequently held the following offices: parish vicar (1987-1988), parish priest of Saint Michael’s parish in Giriama, Christ the King Parish in Miritini and diocesan director of youth and vocational pastoral ministry (1988-1990), and rector and teacher at the Saint Mary’s Minor Seminary in Kwale (1990-1992). He then obtained a Master’s degree in religious studies from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi (1992-1994) and a licentiate in Arabic and Islamic studies in Cairo and at the PISAI in Rome (1994-1998). He served as parish vicar (1998-1999), teacher and formator at the Saint Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary in Tindinyo (2000-2002), teacher and rector of Augustine’s Senior Seminary in Mabanga (2002-2006), director of the diocesan office for Catholic Education and parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima in Kongowea (2006-2008); and from 2008 to the present, vicar general of the archdiocese of Mombasa.

Since 2011 Msgr. Lagho has served as president of the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics (CICC) Association and is the diocesan head of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue. He has also served as consultor of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (2008-2014) and consultant of DANMISSION – Missionary Association of the Lutheran Evangelical Church of Denmark (2015-2016).

Resignation of bishop of Ragusa, Italy

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ragusa, Italy, presented by Bishop Carmelo Cuttitta.

Resignation of bishop of Troyes, France

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Troyes, France, presented by Bishop Marc Stenger.