In a significant move signalling the growing influence of African clergy within the Catholic Church’s central structures, Edward Daniang Daleng, O.S.A., a Nigerian Augustinian priest, has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV as Vice-Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household.
The appointment was officially announced by the Vatican on Monday.
The Prefecture of the Papal Household is one of the oldest and most protocol-sensitive offices in the Roman Curia. It is charged with coordinating the Pope’s private and public audiences, managing official visits, overseeing the Papal Apartments and the logistics of the Holy Father’s daily engagements.
As Vice-Regent, Fr Daleng will work alongside the Rector/Regent of the Prefecture, Leonardo Sapienza, and help organise audiences with heads of state, diplomats and church leaders, as well as prepare papal visits, ceremonies and internal Vatican arrangements.
Speaking to Vatican media shortly after Pope Leo’s election, Fr Daleng said: “He has Africa in his heart. He has visited all our African missions several times and has come to my country, Nigeria, on at least ten occasions, including in 2016, when we celebrated for the first time the intermediate General Chapter.”
Fr Daleng was born on 4 April 1977 in Yitla’ar, Kwalla (Plateau State), Nigeria. He made his first vows in the Order of Saint Augustine on November 9, 2001, and his solemn vows on November 13, 2004. He was ordained a priest on September 10, 2005, and later earned a doctorate in moral theology from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome in 2012.
Prior to this appointment, he served as General Counsellor and Procurator General of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.), representing the Order before the Holy See and liaising among Augustinian provinces globally.
- Wike, Soldiers Clash in Abuja Over Land - November 12, 2025
- Ekwunife Congratulates Soludo, Thanks Supporters After Anambra Governorship Election - November 12, 2025
- Pope Names Nigerian Augustinian, Fr Daleng, as Vice-Regent of Papal Household - November 12, 2025