Pope Leo has appointed a Nigerian priest, Rev. Fr. Anthony Daleng, as Vice Regent of the Papal Household, marking another major milestone for the Nigerian Catholic Church on the global stage.
Fr. Daleng will serve alongside Archbishop Leonardo Sapienza, the current Regent, assisting in coordinating papal audiences and managing logistics for Pope Leo’s daily schedule and official functions.
The Prefecture of the Papal Household is responsible for organizing the Pope’s public and private engagements, including meetings with heads of state, diplomats, and church leaders, as well as overseeing the Apostolic Palace’s administration.
Although the position of Vice Regent is not explicitly defined in Praedicate Evangelium—the apostolic constitution guiding the Roman Curia—Vatican analysts say the move underscores Pope Leo’s commitment to diversity and global inclusion within the Vatican leadership.
Born in Yitla’ar, Kwalla, Plateau State, Fr. Daleng, 48, was ordained in 2005. He previously served as General Counsellor and Procurator General of the Order of Saint Augustine in Rome and holds a doctorate in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy.
Speaking with Vatican Media, Fr. Daleng expressed gratitude for the Pope’s trust, noting the pontiff’s deep affection for Africa.
“He has Africa in his heart,” Fr. Daleng said. “He has visited our African missions several times and has come to Nigeria on at least ten occasions.”
Pope Leo, himself an Augustinian, last visited Nigeria in 2016 during the Order’s Intermediate General Chapter, further cementing ties between the Vatican and Nigeria’s growing Catholic community.
