NAIROBI, Kenya – Pope Leo XIV has appointed Kenyan Bishop Willybard Lagho to the Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, placing the Malindi-based prelate at the heart of the Catholic Church’s global efforts to foster harmony with non-Christian faiths.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Catholic Justice and Peace Department under the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), which hailed Lagho as a “shepherd of peace, dialogue, and understanding.”
“Your witness inspires our mission,” the KCCB said in a congratulatory message shared publicly.
Bishop Lagho’s new appointment comes less than two months after the election of Pope Leo XIV as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, marking one of his earliest key international assignments. Pope Leo assumed office on May 18, following the death of Pope Francis in April.
A Voice for Dialogue in a Divided World
The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue (DID) is a key Vatican body tasked with promoting mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration between the Catholic Church and followers of other religions, particularly Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and traditional faiths.
It does not oversee relations with Judaism, which falls under a separate Vatican department.
Bishop Lagho joins a distinguished team led by Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad and comprising secretaries, undersecretaries, bishops, and theological experts.
The team’s mission includes engaging faith leaders worldwide, advising local churches, and advancing peace, justice, environmental care, and interfaith cooperation.
The Dicastery also helps coordinate commissions focused on specific religions and works closely with other Vatican offices on pressing global issues where faith plays a role.
From Taita-Taveta to the Vatican
Born on March 23, 1958, in Taita-Taveta, Bishop Lagho was ordained a priest in April 1987 under the Archdiocese of Mombasa.
He was appointed Bishop of Malindi on December 28, 2020, and officially ordained in March 2021 at St. Anthony Cathedral.
His long-standing commitment to peace and dialogue, especially in Kenya’s coast region — a religiously diverse area often marked by historical tensions — has made him a respected figure in interfaith circles.
Recognition of Kenya’s Role
The appointment is being seen as a recognition of Kenya’s growing influence within the global Catholic Church and its unique religious landscape, where Christians, Muslims, and followers of traditional African religions have coexisted for generations.
It also signals the new pope’s intent to elevate voices from the Global South and emphasize dialogue in regions where religion can either fuel division or inspire unity.
