Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Feb 22: The newly appointed bishop of the diocese of Udupi, Msgr Dr Leslie Clifford D’Souza, will be ordained as bishop on April 20, 2026, at the historic Milagres Cathedral.

He was appointed as the bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Udupi on January 31, 2026, by the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.

The solemn episcopal ordination ceremony and the official taking charge will be held at Milagres Cathedral. The ceremony will take place in the presence of cardinals, archbishops and more than 30 bishops from various dioceses across India. A large number of priests, religious sisters, and lay faithful are expected to participate in and witness the historic occasion.

Msgr Dr Leslie Clifford D’Souza succeeds Most Rev Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo as bishop of Udupi. The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of bishop Lobo, who will continue to serve as the apostolic administrator of the diocese until the new bishop formally assumes office.

Born on August 19, 1962, in Yermal in the diocese of Udupi, Fr Leslie Clifford D’Souza pursued his Bachelor of Arts through distance education from the University of Mysore. He studied philosophy at St Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary in Mangaluru and completed his theological studies at the Pontifical Urbaniana University. He later earned both licentiate and doctorate degrees in moral theology from the Université Catholique de Louvain.

He was ordained a priest on May 10, 1990. Initially incardinated in the diocese of Mangaluru, he was later transferred to the diocese of Udupi.

Service in various capacities

Over the years, he has served the Church in several roles, including:

• Assistant parish priest, Holy Rosary Church, Kundapur (1990–1992)

• Assistant parish priest, Holy Cross Church, Kulshekar, Mangaluru (1992–1995)

• Professor of moral theology, St Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary, Mangaluru (2003–2010)

• Parish priest, St John the Evangelist Church, Pangala (2010–2017)

• Parish priest, Our Lady of Rosary Church, Kallianpur (2017–2023)

• Parish priest, Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva, and dean of Shirva deanery (since 2023).