Pope Leo XIV Appoints Nigerian Augustinian Priest, Fr. Edward Daniang Daleng, as Vice Regent of the Papal Household
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Nigerian priest Fr. Edward Daniang Daleng, OSA, as the Vice Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, making him the second-highest official in the Vatican office responsible for organizing papal audiences, ceremonies, and official gatherings.
The Prefecture of the Papal Household coordinates audiences with the Pope, arranges papal ceremonies and meetings of the College of Cardinals and Roman Curia, and oversees logistics whenever the Holy Father leaves the Apostolic Palace for visits within Rome or across Italy.
Fr. Daniang, a member of the Order of St. Augustine — the same religious order as Pope Leo XIV — has served as General Councilor and most recently as Procurator General, where he managed the order’s official business with the Holy See.
Born on April 4, 1977, in Yitla’ar, Kwalla, Plateau State, Nigeria, Fr. Daniang made his first religious profession in 2001 and solemn vows in 2004. He was ordained a priest in 2005 and earned a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome in 2012, focusing on “Respect for the Dignity and Care of Patients with Incurable and Terminal Illnesses.”
Fr. Daniang first met Pope Leo XIV (then Fr. Robert Prevost, OSA) in 2001 during a visit to Nigeria and later deepened their friendship when he moved to Rome in 2002. Speaking about the pope, Fr. Daniang described him as a man of “simplicity and humility,” saying, “That is how he was, how he is.”
He also noted that “Africa is in [Pope Leo’s] heart,” recalling that as Prior General of the Augustinians, the future pope visited Nigeria at least ten times — a testament to his deep pastoral love and connection to the continent.
Fr. Daniang’s appointment marks another milestone for the growing presence and influence of African clergy in key Vatican positions.
Credit: EWTN
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