Franciscan Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw has been named the vicar apostolic of Quetta in Pakistan's Balochistan province, more than a year after he was removed as archbishop of Lahore amid allegations of abuse of power and financial misconduct.
Capuchin Bishop Khalid Rehmat, whom he replaces, has been appointed the metropolitan archbishop of Lahore, in Punjab province.
Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw was appointed vicar apostolic of Quetta on March 10.
Franciscan Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw has been named the vicar apostolic of Quetta in Pakistan's Balochistan province, more than a year after he was removed as archbishop of Lahore amid allegations of abuse of power and financial misconduct.
Capuchin Bishop Khalid Rehmat, whom he replaces, has been appointed the metropolitan archbishop of Lahore, in Punjab province.
The appointments made by Pope Leo XIV were announced by the Vatican press office on March 10.
The reshuffle has sparked a debate among Catholics over accountability within the Church.
Father Qaiser Feroz, executive secretary of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops' Conference's social communications commission, welcomed the new appointments.
He declined to comment on the status of two separate inquiries — one led by Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and another by Archbishop Benny Mario Travas of Karachi — into allegations of abuse of power and financial mismanagement that led to Shaw's removal in August 2024.
We are very happy; both are great choices, Feroz told UCA News on March 10.
He said Archbishop Shaw brings years of experience to Quetta. It is a blessing, and his contribution will be integral for the vicariate, he added.
Similarly, Archbishop-elect Khalid, the youngest among Pakistani bishops, Feroz said, will make a huge difference in Lahore Archdiocese with his proven leadership qualities in a difficult region like Balochistan.
Shaw was removed in August 2024 with the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization citing some ongoing difficult situation, which prompted him to take a period of absence from his office.
This followed media reports and social media posts accusing him of embezzlement and mismanagement of Church funds, as well as questionable deals involving Church-owned properties.
In 2022, Shaw was accused of homosexuality by a suspended Lahore priest, Father Rashid Alfonse — allegations that Church authorities later rejected.
Catholic activist Rojar Randhawa — who lodged complaints with the Vatican about Shaw's alleged abuse of power and financial scandals nearly two years before his removal — expressed concern about the new appointment.
Has justice truly been served, or does this move simply represent a change in positions without fully addressing the concerns that were raised? Randhawa, a former head of operations at Caritas Pakistan's Lahore regional office, asked.
For the healing and credibility of the Church, it is essential that matters of accountability are approached with honesty, clarity, and compassion.
The faithful look forward to leadership that reflects the Gospel values of truth, humility, and responsibility, he said.
A Lahore archdiocese official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Shaw's journey from an archbishop to vicar apostolic was effectively a demotion.
For him, it is a new beginning — the next step in his rehabilitation, the official told UCA News. He had been living in seclusion at the Franciscan Friars Minor Custos house in Karachi and was not allowed to leave the country.
Shaw will have to prove that he is worthy of the Vatican's decision, he added. Though any progress in Balochistan, the country's largest province, where Christians are scattered, will be a miracle given his leadership record.
Shaw was born in 1957 in the Sindh region, falling under Hyderabad diocese, and was ordained a priest in 1991.
He was appointed titular bishop of Tino and auxiliary bishop of Lahore in 2009, became apostolic administrator of the archdiocese in 2010, and was later appointed metropolitan archbishop in 2013.
Within the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan, he has served as chair of the commissions for interreligious dialogue, family, and education, as well as Caritas Pakistan.
In 2017, Shaw faced a backlash after allowing Maryam Nawaz, the current chief minister of Punjab and daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, to address a gathering at Lahore Cathedral during an election campaign.
The controversy prompted the archdiocese to ban political speeches and activities in Church buildings.
Archbishop-elect Rehmat was born in 1968 in Islamabad-Rawalpindi diocese. He made his solemn profession as a Capuchin priest in 2007.
He served as editor of the Lahore Archdiocese's bimonthly magazine Catholic Naqeeb from 2018 until becoming the first Pakistani Capuchin bishop in 2021.
Within the bishops' conference, he currently chairs the commissions for consecrated life and evangelization, as well as the Pontifical Mission Societies. He also served as a delegate to the Synod on Synodality.
Pakistan has about 3.3 million Christians, with nearly 80 percent living in Punjab, the country's most populous province.
In contrast, Balochistan — the largest but least developed province bordering Afghanistan and Iran — has only about 0.43 percent Christians.