Pope Leo XIV Appoints Ugandan Born Priest as Bishop in America

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) says Pope Leo XIV has appointed Ugandan born priest Rev Simon Peter Engurait as the new bishop of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana, United States.

According to the USCCB office of public affairs, the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is comprised of 3,500 square miles in the State of Louisiana, and has a total population of 257,548, of which 75,761, are Catholic.

News of the appointment of Engurait was communicated by Monsignor Većeslav Tumir, Chargés d’affaires ad interim of the Apostolic Nunciature on behalf of apostolic nuncio to the United States Cardinal Christophe Pierre.

Until his appointment as Bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Ugandan born priest Rev Simon Peter Engurait was a priest of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and current diocesan administrator.

In January 2024, Father Simon-Peter Engurait was appointed the diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana after the sudden death of Bishop Mario Dorsonville.

With Bishop Dorsonville succumbing to liver disease complication, the diocese was left sede vacante.

To fill this vacuum, college of consultors of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, appointed to become diocesan administrator.

Engurait had been the vicar general of the diocese since 2017 until 2024 when he was selected as the diocesan administrator.

It was expected that Pope Francis would appoint a new bishop but the pontiff died before doing so.

Now, new Pope Leo XIV has appointed Ugandan born priest Rev Simon Peter Engurait as the new bishop of Houma-Thibodaux.

You can read our Fact Check on claims that New Pope Leo XIV was Chaplain at Uganda’s St Leo’s Kyegobe in Fort Portal, as well as interesting facts about new Pope Leo XIV Here and There.

Please Follow our Whatsapp Channel for More Stories Here

For comments on this report, story tips or sponsored content, send us a Whatsapp message on +256 705 690 819 or E-mail us on pearltimesug@gmail.com).