The Diocese of Karwar, comprising the whole civil district of Uttara Kannada was carved out from the Diocese of Belgaum and erected as the Diocese of Karwar by the Decree Christi missum of Pope Paul VI dated January 24, 1976 and Most Rev Bishop Leonard D’Mello was appointed as first Bishop of Karwar. After zealously shepherding the Diocese for nearly 30 years, Bishop William D’Mello resigned on attaining superannuation. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Msgr Derek Fernandes of Belgaum Diocese as the new Bishop of Karwar on February 24, 2007. Pope Francis appointed him as the new Bishop of Belgaum on May 1, 2019. On 13th January 2024, Pope Francis nominated Rev Msgr. Duming Dias from the diocese of Shimoga as Bishop of Karwar.