Raphael Thattil
Raphael Thattil | |
|---|---|
| Major Archbishop-elect of the Syro-Malabar Church Metropolitan and Gate of All India designate | |
 | |
| Diocese | Ernakulam-Angamaly |
| Elected | 9 January 2024 |
| Predecessor | George Alencherry |
| Other post(s) | Metropolitan Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 21 December 1980 by Joseph Kundukulam |
| Rank | Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 April 1956 Thrissur, Kerala, India |
| Previous post(s) | |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Oriental Institute (DCanL) |
Mar Raphael Thattil is an Indian Catholic prelate and the Major Archbishop-elect of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.[1][2]
Mar Thattil was elected as Major Archbishop by the Holy Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church on 10 January 2024 to succeed Mar George Alencherry who resigned on December 2023. Mar Thattil was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Thrissur in 2010 and was installed as first bishop of the Eparchy (Diocese) of Shamshabad in 2018. The Eparchy of Shamshabad is headquartered in Telangana and has jurisdiction over Syro-Malabar Catholics in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, North India, Central India, and Northeast India. As per Pope Francis's October 2017 letter, through the creation of the Shamshabad Diocese, ‘all India jurisdiction’ of the Syro-Malabar Church has been restored.[3]
Early life
Raphael Thattil was born in Thrissur on 21 April 1956.[4] He did his schooling at St Thomas College High School, Thrissur, and joined St Mary's Minor Seminary, Thope on 4 July 1971. He did his ecclesiastical studies in St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, and he was ordained priest by Mar Joseph Kundukulam on 21 December 1980.[5][6]
Career
Thattil was first appointed as the Assistant Vicar of Aranattukara and later as Father Prefect of minor seminary. He was then sent to Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome for doing his Bachelor of Theology and Doctor of Canon Law. After coming back from Rome, he was appointed as the Director of Catechism. In 1998 he was appointed as the first Rector of the Mary Matha Major Seminary. On 15 January 2010 he was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur and Titular Bishop of Buruni.[7][8]
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Raphael Thattil to the office of the Apostolic Visitor for the Syro-Malabar faithful in India residing outside the proper territory of the Major Archiepiscopal Church.
Pope Francis named him the first Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Shamshabad on 10 October 2017[9] and he was installed on 7 January 2018.[10]
The Syro-Malabar Church the election of Mar Raphael Thattil as its new Archbishop. This appointment makes him the fourth Major Archbishop of the Church. The official announcement of the election was made simultaneously at the Vatican and the Major Archiepiscopal Curia at Mount St. Thomas in Kakkanad on 10 January 2024.[11]
References
- ^ ccbi, Editor (10 January 2024). "Mar Raphael Thattil, New Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church". CCBI. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ "Mar Raphael Thattil is new Syro Malabar Church Archbishop". Onmanorama. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Syro-Malabar Catholic Church inaugurates Shamshabad Diocese". Vatican News. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "Bishop Raphael Thattil [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Bishop of Shamshabad Diocese Raphael Thattil | UCA News". www.ucanews.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "KCBC Site". kcbc.co.in. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Mar Raphael Thattil". Syro-Malabar Church Internet Mission. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- ^ "Our Auxiliary Bishop Mar Raphael Thattil". Marathakara Church. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- ^ "Provisions for the Syro-Malabar Church, 10.10.2017" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ "Kerala church gets back all-India jurisdiction with Shamshabad diocese". Indian Express. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (10 January 2024). "Raphael Thattil is new Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
