Simon Almeida
Simon Almeida is an Indian Roman Catholic prelate who has been appointed as the Bishop of the Diocese of Poona on 1 November 2025 by Pope Leo XIV.
Early life and education
Simon Almeida was born on 4 November 1960 in Ghas, Maharashtra, India. He completed his primary education at St. Gonsalo Garcia Primary School and secondary education at Holy Cross High School, Nirmal. In 1978, he entered the Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary in Pune.He pursued philosophical and theological studies at St. Pius X College in Goregaon, Mumbai. Almeida earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Bombay. 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 and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines.
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
- Assistant Parish Priest, St. Ignatius Parish, Kirkee
- Diocesan Director for Youth
- Rector, Prakash Bhavan Minor Seminary, Pune
- Parish Priest, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Pune
- Member, Presbyteral Council
- Parish Priest, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Chinchwad
- Member, College of Consultors
- Diocesan Economist, Diocese of Poona
- Parish Priest, St. Anne’s Church, Solapur Bazaar
- Parish Priest, St. John Paul II Church, Wakad
- Additional Secretary, Western Region Bishop’s Council
- Parish Priest, St. Joseph’s Church, Ghorpuri, Pune