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{{Short description|Indian Roman Catholic prelate (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Priest
| honorific-prefix = [[The Reverend]]
| name = Simon Almeida
| honorific-suffix =
| title = Bishop of Poona
| image =
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| religion = Roman Catholic
| church = Roman Catholic Church
| diocese = Poona
| see = Poona
| archdiocese =
| province = [[Archdiocese of Bombay|Bombay]]
| metropolis =
| appointed = 1 November 2025
| term = 2025–present
| retired =
| predecessor = [[John Rodrigues]]
| successor =
| opposed =
| other_post =
| previous_post = Deputy Secretary, Western Region Bishops’ Council; parish priest (various parishes in the Diocese of Poona)

| ordination = 1 April 1990
| ordained_by = [[Valerian D'Souza]]
| consecration = 17 January 2026
| consecrated_by = [[Filipe Neri Ferrão]]
| cardinal =
| created_cardinal_by =
| rank =
| laicized =

| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|11|4|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Ghas, [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| baptised = 
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| nationality = Indian
| residence =
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| occupation =
| profession =
| education = St. Pius X College, Mumbai; University of Bombay (B.A. Psychology; M.A. Sociology); Ateneo de Manila University (M.A. Pastoral Studies)
| alma_mater =
| motto = To make all things new in Christ (Rev 21:5)<br>''ख्रिस्ताठायी सर्वांगीण नुतनीकरणासाठी (प्रकटीकरण २१:५)''
| signature =
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| module =
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}}

'''Simon Almeida''' (born 4 November 1960) is an Indian Roman Catholic prelate who has been appointed as the Bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Poona|Diocese of Poona]] on 1 November 2025 by [[Pope Leo XIV]].<ref name=vatican>{{Cite web |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/11/01/0821/01465.html#india |title=Rinunce e nomine |publisher=Vatican Press |date=1 November 2025 |access-date=1 November 2025 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/fr-simon-almeida-appointed-as-the-new-bishop-of-poona-10340578/ |title=Fr Simon Almeida appointed as the new Bishop of Poona |publisher=The Indian Express |date=1 November 2025 |access-date=1 November 2025}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Simon Almeida was born on 4 November 1960 in Ghas (now in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Vasai|Diocese of Vasai]]), [[Maharashtra]], [[India]].<ref name="vatican"/> He completed his primary education at St. Gonsalo Garcia Primary School and secondary education at Holy Cross High School, Nirmal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://catholicconnect.in/news/fr-simon-almeida-appointed-new-bishop-of-poona |title=Fr. Simon Almeida Appointed New Bishop of Poona |publisher=Catholic Connect |date=1 November 2025 |access-date=1 November 2025}}</ref> In 1978, he entered the Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary in [[Pune]].<ref name="eich">{{Cite web |url=http://bistum-eichstaett.de/aktuelle-meldungen-details/news/neuer-bischof-fuer-die-partnerdioezese-poona0/ |title=Neuer Bischof für die Partnerdiözese Poona |publisher=Bistum Eichstätt |date=1 November 2025 |access-date=1 November 2025 |language=de}}</ref>

He pursued philosophical and theological studies at St. Pius X College in [[Goregaon]], [[Mumbai]].<ref name="vatican"/> Almeida earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Sociology from the [[University of Bombay]].<ref name="vatican"/><ref name="indianexpress">{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/fr-simon-almeida-appointed-as-the-new-bishop-of-poona-10340578/ |title=Fr Simon Almeida appointed as the new Bishop of Poona |publisher=The Indian Express |date=1 November 2025 |access-date=1 November 2025}}</ref> He further obtained a Diploma in Foundations for Pastoral Renewal and Steward Leadership in the Church of the Poor from the East Asian Pastoral Institute, [[Manila]] (2000–2001) and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from [[Ateneo de Manila University]], [[Quezon City]], [[Philippines]] (2000–2002).<ref name="indianexpress"/><ref name="catholicconnect">{{Cite web |url=https://catholicconnect.in/news/fr-simon-almeida-appointed-new-bishop-of-poona |title=Fr. Simon Almeida Appointed New Bishop of Poona |publisher=Catholic Connect |date=1 November 2025 |access-date=1 November 2025}}</ref>

==Priesthood==
Almeida was ordained a priest on 1 April 1990 for the Diocese of Poona by Bishop [[Valerian D'Souza]]. During his 35 years of priestly ministry, he held various pastoral and administrative roles within the diocese.

His positions include:
* Assistant Parish Priest, [[St. Patrick's Cathedral, Pune]] (1990–1994)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Assistant Parish Priest, St. Ignatius Parish, Kirkee (1994–1996)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Diocesan Director for Youth (1996–2000)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Rector, Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary, Pune (2002–2003)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Parish Priest, [[St. Patrick's Cathedral, Pune]] (2003–2008)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Member, Presbyteral Council (from 2003)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Parish Priest, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Chinchwad (2008–2013)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Member, College of Consultors (from 2009)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Financial Administrator, Diocese of Poona (2010–2015)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Parish Priest, St. Anne’s Church, Solapur Bazaar (2013–2019)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Parish Priest, St. John Paul II Church, Wakad (2019–2023)<ref name="vatican"/>
* Additional Secretary (later Deputy Secretary), Western Region Bishop’s Council (2023–2025)<ref name="vatican"/><ref name="indianexpress"/>
* Parish Priest, St. Joseph’s Church, Ghorpuri, Pune (from June 2025)<ref name="indianexpress"/><ref name="eich"/>

==Episcopate==
On 1 November 2025, Pope Leo XIV appointed Almeida as the Bishop of Poona, succeeding Bishop [[John Rodrigues]], who was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Bombay on 30 November 2024.<ref name="vatican"/><ref name="fides">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fides.org/it/news/76985-ASIA_INDIA_Nomina_del_Vescovo_di_Poona |title=Nomina del Vescovo di Poona |publisher=Agenzia Fides |date=1 November 2025 |access-date=1 November 2025 |language=it}}</ref><ref name="donaukurier">{{Cite web |url=https://www.donaukurier.de/lokales/landkreis-eichstaett/papst-ernennt-neuen-oberhirten-partnerbistum-von-eichstaett-in-indien-hat-neuen-bischof-19842529 |title=Papst ernennt neuen Oberhirten: Partnerbistum von Eichstätt in Indien hat neuen Bischof |publisher=Donau Kurier |date=1 November 2025 |access-date=1 November 2025 |language=de}}</ref>

Simon Almeida received episcopal ordination from Cardinal [[Filipe Neri Ferrao]] on 17 January 2026 and was installed as the Bishop of Poona in the same ceremony. The co-consecrators were Archbishop [[John Rodrigues]] and Archbishop [[Elias Gonsalves]].<ref name="examiner">{{cite news |title=The Examiner Catholic Newsweekly's post |url=https://www.facebook.com/theexaminermumbai/posts/the-solemn-episcopal-ordination-and-installation-of-the-new-bishop-took-place-on/1462874212510811/ |access-date=14 March 2026 |work=The Examiner |date=20 January 2026}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|balmes|Bishop Simon Almeida}}
* [https://gcatholic.org/p/77175 GCatholic.org]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Almeida, Simon}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Ateneo de Manila University alumni]]

Simon Almeida - Revision history

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