Pope Leo XIV appoints Nigerian priest as Vice Regent of Papal Household

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Nigerian priest Fr. Edward Daleng, O.S.A., as the new Vice Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household.
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The Vatican announced the appointment on Monday, November 10, 2025. This role places Fr. Daleng in the Vatican office responsible for organizing the Pope’s daily engagements, including all private and public audiences with heads of state, diplomats, and church leaders. Though the position of Vice Regent is not formally recognized in the current Catholic Constitution, it is seen as a move to gradually introduce a new official to the operations of the Papal Household.
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The Prefecture of the Papal Household is one of the most vital offices in the Vatican, tasked with ensuring the precision and decorum of the Pope’s schedule, ceremonies, and logistical operations, including those surrounding the Papal Apartments.
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‎Fr. Daleng, a member of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.), the same religious order as Pope Leo XIV, will work alongside the Regent, Archbishop Leonardo Sapienza, to coordinate these activities.
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‎Fr. Daleng was born in 1977 in Yitla’ar, Plateau State, Nigeria, and has a strong academic and administrative background, holding a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy (2012). Before this appointment, he served as the General Counsellor and Procurator General of the Augustinian Order in Rome, a position requiring him to manage the Order’s affairs with the Holy See.
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‎Fr. Daleng has previously spoken about the Supreme Pontiff’s affinity for the continent. According to him, the Pope has Africa in his heart. He mentioned that Pope Leo XIV had visited Nigeria at least on ten different occasions, when he was the Prior General of the Augustinian Order.
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Despite his frequent visits to Africa as an Augustinian leader, Pope Leo XIV has not yet traveled to any African countries since his inauguration as Pope on May 18, 2025.
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The official duties of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, now co-managed by Fr. Daleng, include; Organizing all audiences (private, special, and general), handling preparations for all Pontifical ceremonies (except liturgical celebrations), and arranging logistics whenever the Pope travels within Rome or Italy.
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