Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Philip Anyolo as New Archbishop

Pope Francis has appointed Homa Bay Bishop Philip Anyolo to be the new Archbishop of Kisumu Diocese.

Anyolo is set to take over from Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth who has been serving the Catholic Diocese since 1990.

The appointment was made on Thursday, November 15, through an official publication in Rome known as L’Osservatore Romano.

Anyolo also doubles as the Chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Personal Life

Born in 1956, Anyolo has an illustrious religious career spanning more than 30 years.

He was first ordained as a priest at the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret in 1983 before his ascension to being a bishop.

In 1996, the then Pope John Paul II appointed him as the Bishop of Kericho with subsequent consecration taking place in February 1996.

In 2003, he was appointed as the Bishop of Homa Bay and has diligently served the position ever since.

Appointment Process

The Pope of the Catholic Church is strictly entrusted with the appointment of Bishops and Archbishops in a process that can take more than eight months.

The process begins at the Diocese level where Bishops are asked to submit names of suitable candidates to the province’s Archbishop. The process then continues through a series of consultations with strict confidentiality until a meeting with the pope is set.

The pope is given the final names together with recommendations and then decides who to appoint after a few days.