His Lordship Bishop Alain Harel today paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Patrick Herminie, at State House, as he prepares to retire from active episcopal ministry. This was their first meeting since President Herminie been elected. The visit took place in the context of the transition within the Diocese of Port Victoria following the acceptance by His Holiness Pope Leo of the resignation Mr Harel, who has served the Diocese since 2020.
Discussions during the courtesy call included the process for the appointment of a new bishop for the Diocese of Port Victoria, which is undertaken by the Pope following consultations with the Apostolic Nuncio, other bishops, and the Dicastery for Bishops. It was noted that auxiliary bishops retain their roles unless otherwise decided by the Vatican and are not automatically appointed as diocesan bishops.
President Herminie expressed his appreciation to Bishop Alain Harel for his service to the Catholic Church and the wider Indian Ocean region and thanked him for his pastoral dedication.
The President thanked the Bishop for his continued prayers for Seychelles and its people.
Bishop Harel, in turn, offered his blessings to the President as he continues to serve his national mandate and committed himself to praying continuously for the peace, unity, and betterment of Seychelles. He reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to working for the common good of the people and emphasized the importance of tolerance, faith, and moral values in society.
The meeting also addressed issues of national and social importance, including the responsible use of social media, the role of good parenting, and the importance of religion in promoting social cohesion.
Bishop Alain Harel was born on 24 June 1950 in Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius. Ordained a priest in 1978 and consecrated a bishop in 2002, he has served the Church in various pastoral and episcopal roles across Mauritius and Rodrigues and is a member of the Conference of Bishops of the Indian Ocean (CEDOI).
In line with Canon Law (Canon 401 §1), bishops are required to submit their resignation to the Holy Father upon reaching the age of 75. The Pope may accept the resignation immediately, delay its acceptance, or request the bishop to continue serving temporarily until a successor is appointed. Upon retirement, a bishop retains the honorary title of Bishop Emeritus, in accordance with Canon 402 §1.
Seychelles has an estimated Catholic population of approximately 70,000, representing nearly 76.2 per cent of the total population.