The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, which until last week had 14 priests carrying the title of monsignor, now has 10 more.

Bishop Thomas J. Tobin announced that Pope Benedict XVI has accepted his recommendation that 10 additional priests be named “chaplains to his Holiness” with the title of monsignor. It marks the first time that priests in Rhode Island have been accorded the title since Monsignor John Darcy, the chancellor and diocesan vicar general, was honored by the Holy See in 2004.

While the title is largely honorific, recognizing service and commitment to the church, the recipient traditionally wears a black cassock trimmed with “Roman pink” — purple piping and buttons and a purple sash.

These are the newly elevated priests:

•Monsignor Raymond B. Bastia, 60, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Providence and the diocesan secretary for planning and financial services.

•Monsignor Barry R.L. Connerton, 64, pastor of St. Augustine Church in Providence, one of the largest parishes in the diocese, and a former associate editor of the diocesan weekly newspaper.

•Monsignor John C. Halloran, 72, pastor emeritus of St. Thomas More Church in Narragansett, former director of the Tower Hill residential camp for underprivileged children and a former rector of the diocesan college seminary.

•Monsignor Nicholas J. Iacovacci, 83, former pastor of St. Ann Church in Providence, who now lives and assists at St. Peter Church in Warwick while offering pastoral and sacramental ministry to inmates of the Adult Correctional Institutions.

•Monsignor John W. Lolio, 64, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church in East Greenwich since 1992.

•Monsignor Anthony Mancini, 57, rector of the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul since 2004. He has also been the cathedral’s music director since 1991 and director of the Gregorian Concert Choir.

•Monsignor Gerard O. Sabourin, 74, administrator of the Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Community in Exeter, which he started in 1981, and the director of the diocesan apostolate for people with handicaps.

•Monsignor Richard D. Sheahan, 64, pastor of Holy Apostles Church in Cranston and a member of the diocesan finance council.

•Monsignor Ronald P. Simeone, 55, judicial vicar for the diocesan tribunal and pastor for the last nine years of St. Anthony Church in Woonsocket.

•Monsignor Victor M. Vieira, 66, who came to Rhode Island in the wake of rampant chaos and mass murders in Portuguese Timor, and who now serves the Portuguese community in East Providence as pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church.

Bishop Tobin said he recommended their names to the Holy See after consulting with diocesan advisers, deans and the priests’ personnel board. No more than 10 percent of the priests in a given diocese can be accorded the honor of monsignor. There have been 80 priests accorded the title since the Providence diocese was established, in 1872.

rdujardi@projo.com