Pope Leo has appointed Rt. Rev. Willybard Kitogho Lagho, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Malindi, as a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, a significant recognition of his long-standing commitment to promoting peace and understanding among diverse faith communities.
The appointment, announced on July 3, places Bishop Lagho among a distinguished panel of global Church leaders tasked with supporting the Catholic Church’s mission of dialogue with other religions. His inclusion reflects the Vatican’s confidence in his extensive experience in interfaith relations, both in Kenya and internationally.
Bishop Lagho currently chairs the Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue and Ecumenism (CIRDE) at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and also serves as Chairman of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK). He has played a pivotal role in fostering cooperation and peaceful coexistence among Kenya’s Christian, Muslim, and traditional religious communities.
Born on March 23, 1958, in Taita-Taveta, Bishop Lagho was ordained a priest on April 25, 1997. He has served in numerous pastoral, academic, and leadership roles within the Church, including as rector, seminary formator, youth director, and vicar general of Mombasa. He became the first indigenous Bishop of Malindi in December 2020.
Academically, he holds a Master’s in Religious Studies from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and a licentiate in Arabic and Islamic studies from institutions in Cairo and Rome. His prior roles include serving as a consultor for the former Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and as a consultant with DANMISSION, a Danish Lutheran missionary organization.
His new role will see him working alongside other prominent Church leaders from around the world. These include Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo; Cardinal Dominique Mathieu of Iran; and Cardinal Frank Leo of Toronto, among others.
The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue is one of the principal departments of the Roman Curia, charged with fostering mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration between the Catholic Church and followers of other religious traditions, a mission Bishop Lagho has consistently advanced throughout his ministry.
His appointment is seen as a major milestone for Kenya’s Catholic Church and a strong affirmation of Africa’s growing voice in the global ecclesiastical and interfaith landscape.
Written By Rodney Mbua
