Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Willybard Kitogho Lagho of Malindi to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, elevating a prominent Kenyan voice to one of the Catholic Church’s most critical global platforms for faith diplomacy.
The announcement was made on Friday,June7,2025 by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops – Catholic Justice and Peace Department (CJPD Kenya) via their official X account, congratulating Lagho for his new role in promoting global religious harmony.
“The Catholic Justice and Peace Department congratulates Rt. Rev. Willybard Lagho, Bishop of Malindi, on his appointment by Pope Leo to the Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue,” the statement read.
“A shepherd of peace, dialogue, and understanding. Your witness inspires our mission.”
Bishop Lagho currently serves as the Chairperson of the Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue and Ecumenism (CIRDE) at KCCB and is the Chair of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), where he has led key initiatives promoting peaceful coexistence across faiths.
His appointment places him at the heart of one of the Vatican’s major departments under the Roman Curia.
The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue is tasked with fostering understanding, cooperation, and respect between Catholics and followers of other world religions.
It promotes theological exchange, shared social values, and peacebuilding efforts worldwide.
Bishop Lagho’s experience in Kenya’s religiously diverse landscape makes him a natural fit for this role.
His grassroots engagement in interfaith relations, particularly in coastal and multi-ethnic communities, is expected to strengthen the Vatican’s efforts to build bridges across faiths.
Lagho was ordained a priest in April 1987 and appointed Bishop of Malindi on December 28, 2020. He was consecrated on March 19, 2021.
As he takes up this new international mandate, Lagho is expected to bring Kenya’s voice into critical global faith conversations, affirming the country’s reputation as a leader in religious tolerance and dialogue.
