Kathmandu 8 December 2015: Bishop Anthony Francis Sharma S.J. (78), Emeritus Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal passed away peacefully on Tuesday 8 December 2015 at 11:40 p.m. at St. Xavier’s Father Jesuit Residence, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, Kathmandu. He had been in declining health after he was discharged from the Hospital. His funeral will take place on Thursday 10 December 2015 at 12.30 p.m. at the Church of Assumption, Dhobighat, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Bishop Anthony Sharma was born on 20 December 1937 in Kathmandu. He was the first ethnic Nepalese to be ordained as a Jesuit priest on 4 May 1968. The Holy See designated Nepal as Missio Sui Iuris and appointed Monsignor Sharma as the first Ecclesiastical Superior of Nepal on 8 December1984. The country was later elevated to an apostolic prefecture, and Monsignor Sharma became Nepal’s Apostolic Prefect on 12 February 1997. Pope Benedict XVI has raised the local Church of Nepal to the status of a Vicariate on 10 February 2007 and appointed Monsignor Anthony Sharma as the first Vicar Apostolic of the new apostolic vicariate, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of bishop. His episcopal ordination took place on 5 May 2007 at Kathmandu Assumption Church. Bishop Anthony Sharma was also served as the president of Caritas Nepal and patron of the Nepal Catholic Society. He was a priest for 47 years and a bishop for 8 years.