Walking with His People: Bishop-Elect Agnelo Pinheiro Begins a New Chapter in West India
In a moment of grace for the Church in western India, Pope Leo XIV appointed Fr. Agnelo Pinheiro of the Archdiocese of Goa as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Sindhudurg.
The appointment was officially announced at the Vatican at 12 noon on 14 February 2026 and was simultaneously communicated in Goa at 4:30 pm.
The announcement, made by Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão at the Archbishop’s House, was witnessed by Alwyn Barreto, Auxiliary Bishop Simião P. Fernandes, Monsignor Andrew D’Mello, and members of Church leadership from Goa and Sindhudurg. Present at the gathering was the Bishop-Elect himself, whose quiet demeanour reflected the spirit with which he received the call.
A Call Received in Prayer
Speaking to Radio Veritas Asia, Bishop-Elect Agnelo Pinheiro described the appointment not as a moment of triumph but of profound humility.
His first response, he admitted, was fear — an honest awareness of the weight of responsibility placed upon him. When informed by the Apostolic Nuncio, his immediate request was simple: time to pray.
For nearly two days, he remained in deep prayer, wrestling with the call in the spirit of Christ in Gethsemane: “Lord, take this cup away from me.” Yet, like the Master he seeks to follow, his prayer ended in surrender: “If it is Your will, let it be done to me.”
Accepting the appointment as a call from Jesus, he is clear that episcopacy is neither position nor power, but service entrusted with responsibility.
Leadership Shaped by Service
Years of teaching philosophy at the seminary have shaped his understanding of leadership. For Bishop-Elect Agnelo, leadership in the Church can only be servant leadership, rooted in the heart of Christ. Authority divorced from service has no place in his vision.
Equally formative has been the seminary itself. Having grown up there as an altar boy, later entering formation after his SSC, and returning as priest and professor, the seminary became his extended family. What he will miss most, he says, is precisely this family spirit — the fraternity of priests and seminarians that shaped his vocation and priesthood.
A Young Diocese, A Shared Journey
Established in 2005, the Diocese of Sindhudurg is still young. Bishop-Elect Agnelo does not come with ready-made answers. What he brings instead is a vision: to walk with his priests and people.
“For you I am a Bishop, but with you I am a fellow pilgrim on the synodal journey.”
The image of pilgrimage is central to his pastoral imagination. A pilgrim walks with uncertainty, guided by milestones but sustained by hope. For him, uncertainty is not cause for fear, because the journey belongs to Christ, who walks with His Church. Trust in the Lord transforms uncertainty into hope.
Strengthening Families: The First Pastoral Priority
When asked about urgent pastoral priorities, Bishop-Elect Agnelo answers without hesitation: strengthening families.
Strong families, he believes, are the foundation of a strong local Church. He dreams of families becoming “temples of love,” where Christ is truly experienced, togetherness is nurtured, and selfless sacrifice is lived daily. When such values flourish in the home, they naturally overflow into parish and diocesan life.
This family-centred vision also shapes his approach to vocations. Vocation is God’s gift, he insists, but the family is its first school. The seed sown by God is nurtured at home. Priests, bishops, religious, and faithful all share responsibility in encouraging vocations through authentic witness and integrity of life.
A Synodal Church Built on Prayer, Collaboration, and Trust
To the priests, religious, and faithful of Sindhudurg, Bishop-Elect Agnelo offers three invitations:
1. Prayer – He asks the people to pray for him not merely as their Bishop, but as a member of their family. In return, he promises his own prayerful closeness.
2. Collaboration – Ministry is meaningless without the people. The faithful are not passive recipients but the heart of the diocese. Bishop and people must walk hand in hand in building God’s Kingdom.
3. Trust – Without trust, collaboration collapses. With quiet conviction, he assures them that he will be with them and for them always, sharing their joys, sorrows, and struggles.
Hope for the Church in Asia
Speaking to the wider audience of Radio Veritas Asia, Bishop-Elect Agnelo situates his call within the broader communion of the Church. Wherever the Church exists, it is one family with Christ as its Head.
His message of hope to Asia is simple yet profound:
Pray for one another.
Remember that Christ walks with His people.
Trust in the maternal protection of Mary.
In a fragmented world, the Church’s witness as a family can itself become a sign of hope.
“We Need Prophets of Good News”
In his concluding message, Bishop-Elect Agnelo expressed deep appreciation for the Church’s media apostolate.
“You are doing a wonderful apostolate of reaching out to people far and wide. Through this mission, you are serving the mission of Christ. Go on proclaiming to the whole world.”
Reflecting on the media’s role today, he observed that bad news is often amplified, creating the impression that the world is only dark and broken.
“There is much good happening in the world,” he insisted. “But the good news is often not shared.”
Recalling a conversation with a senior editor years ago, he was told candidly: “Bad news sells fast. Good news doesn’t sell.”
But Bishop-Elect Agnelo offers a different conviction. The world needs the Good News — not only as a religious message, but as a way of seeing reality through hope.
Congratulating Radio Veritas Asia for its service, he encouraged its team to continue being instruments of light: “We require prophets of good news.”
As he begins this new chapter, the prayer in his heart remains disarmingly simple:
“Lord, let Your will be done.”
It is a prayer that captures both the fear and the faith with which he steps forward — not alone, but walking with his people, as a shepherd who remains a fellow pilgrim.
