Pope Leo XIV approves ecclesiastical restructuring and appointments in Syro-Malabar Church

The Holy See Press Office has announced a series of decisions by Pope Leo XIV aimed at fostering unity within the Syro-Malabar Church in India. The church, one of the 23 Eastern Churches in full communion with the bishop of Rome, has faced significant division in recent years due to liturgical disputes. The Syro-Malabar Church follows the Chaldean liturgical tradition and traces its origins to the preaching of St. Thomas the Apostle.

The schism risk has escalated since 1999, with liturgical reforms later confirmed by the synod of the Syro-Malabar Church in 2021. In July, Pope Leo XIV revoked the 2023 appointment of Archbishop Cyril Vasil’ as papal delegate to the Syro-Malabar Church following an internal agreement that did not require his mediation. The Vatican reported on August 28 that it had accepted several resignations, made episcopal appointments, and established new ecclesiastical provinces within the church.

The synod of bishops of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church accepted the resignation of Bishop Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy of Belthangady and elected Claretian Father James Patteril as his successor. Patteril, 63, is a native of Mangalore, India, and has served as a priest since 1990. He studied pastoral theology in Germany and has been active in both India and Germany.

Carmelite Father Joseph Thachaparambath has been elected bishop of the Eparchy of Adilabad. Born in 1969 in Nalumukku, India, he entered the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate in 1985 and was ordained a priest in 1997. His pastoral work has focused on parish life and education, and he has been superior of the Mar Thoma Province since 2023.

His Beatitude Mar Raphael Thattil, major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, with the synod’s consent, accepted the resignation of Thomas Elavanal as bishop of the Eparchy of Kalyan.

Regarding the territorial organization, the Holy See has announced the creation of several ecclesiastical provinces and the appointment of corresponding metropolitan archbishops. These changes aim to strengthen the church’s structure and promote unity.

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