Syro Malankara Catholic Church Gets Two New Bishops

New Delhi, 19 September 2025 (CCBI): The Synod of the Syro-Malankara Major Archiepiscopal Catholic Church, with the assent of the Holy Father Leo XIV, has elected Fr. Kuriakose Thomas Thadathil (63), of the Clergy of the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla, as Apostolic Visitor for the Syro-Malankara Faithful residing in Europe. He has been elevated to the episcopate and assigned the titular See of Mariamme.

The Synod also elected Fr. John Kuttiyil (43), of the Clergy of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum, as Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum, assigning him the titular See of Canata. The elections were formally announced on 19 September 2025.

Bishop-Elect Kuriakose Thomas Thadathil was born on 27 March 1962 in Kottayam. He completed his philosophical and theological formation at St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye, earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Calicut, and obtained a Doctorate in Liturgy from the Faculty of Eastern Ecclesiastical Sciences at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome.

Ordained a priest on 30 December 1987, he has served as Parish Priest in several communities of the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla; Resident Professor at St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary, Trivandrum; Master of Ceremonies of the Syro-Malankara Church (2001–2020); Secretary of the Synodal Commission for Liturgy (2005–2010); Director of the Department of Catechesis (2010–2013); Chancellor of the Archieparchy (2013–2017); and Rector of St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary (2017–2020). Since 2020, he has coordinated the pastoral care of his sui iuris Church in the United Kingdom.

Bishop-Elect John Kuttiyil was born on 30 May 1982 in Kizhakketheruvu. He received his formation at St. Aloysius Minor Seminary and St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary and holds a Doctorate in Eastern Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome.

Ordained a priest on 2 April 2008, he has served as Parish Priest in several communities of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum; Personal Secretary to the Major Archbishop; Rector of the Minor Seminary of the Archieparchy; Rector of St. Mary Queen of Peace Basilica; Professor at St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary; Secretary of the Synodal Commission for Vocations; and Judge and Defender of the Bond at the Ecclesiastical Tribunal. He is currently Parish Priest of St. John Paul II Syro-Malankara Parish, Nalanchira, and Chancellor of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum.

By Dr. Stephen Alathara