The Correspondent of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA, stationed at the city of the Vatican, has recently reported that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed Monsignor Augustin Simmel Ndiaye, who has been serving as the Rector of the Burkina Faso-based Catholic University of West Africa (UCAO) as the Local Ordinary of Saint-Louis Du Sénégal Diocese in Senegal.

The appointment of Monsignor Ndiaye, who is a member of the Clergy of Senegal’s Catholic Archdiocese of Dakar to shepherd the people of God in the Senegalese Diocese that has been under the administration of Archbishop André Guèye was made public by the Holy See Press office on Wednesday, April 2.

Saint-Louis Du Sénégal Diocese became vacant following the retirement of Bishop Ernest Sambou on 12 January 2023 after attaining the canonical age of 75. Upon his retirement, Bishop Sambou had served the Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination on 29 January 2003.

Born on 2 January 1959 in Fadiouth in the Catholic Archdiocese of Dakar, the Bishop-elect was ordained a Priest on 9 April 1983 after completing his philosophical and theological studies at the François Libermann Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Sébikhotane, Dakar.

Since his Priestly ordination, Monsignor Simmel has served in various capacities including Vicar of the Cathedral of Notre Dame des Victoires in Dakar; Vicar at Sainte Thérèse in Grand-Dakar; and President of the Union of Senegalese Clergy.

The alumnus of the Rome-based Pontifical Urban University where he obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law has also served as Professor of Canon Law, Methodology, and Introduction to Sacramental Liturgical Practice at the François Libermann Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Sébikhotane.

The Bishop-elect served as rector and Professor of Canon Law at the François Libermann Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Sébikhotane; President of the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Thiès; and Member of the Council for Economic Affairs of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dakar.

He has also served as Parish Priest of the Cathedral of Notre Dame des Victoires in Dakar; Parish Priest of Sainte Marthe in Mbour; and Fidei Donum Priest in the Diocese of Angers in France.

Once ordained Bishop, he will become the 13th Bishop of the Senegalese Diocese that measures 73,315 square-kilometer with a population of 7,217 Catholics, according to 2023 statistics, and is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Dakar.

Saint-Louis Diocese was erected in 1763 as Prefecture Apostolic of Senegal before being elevated to a Diocese in February 1966.

Day: April 3, 2025

BISHOP OF SENEGAL’S SAINT-LOUIS DIOCESE APPOINTED

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