Vatican: Pope Francis on Tuesday acknowledged the appointment of a new auxiliary bishop to a diocese in southern India’s Kerala state belonging to the eastern rite Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

At its meeting at Mount Saint Thomas in Kerala, the Syro-Malabar Church Synod elected Fr. Jose Pulickal as Auxiliary Bishop of Kanjirapally, headed by Bishop Mathew Arackal.

Unlike in the Latin-rite Church where the Pope directly appoints bishops, the synods of eastern-rite Catholic churches have the autonomy of appointing their own bishops, to which the Pope gives his assent.

Born March 3, 1964, Fr. Pulickal studied at the Minor seminary of Mary Matha. ‘

After his priestly studies at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, he was ordained priest on Jan. 1, 1991. After becoming the vicar of Kanjirapally Cathedral and director of ‎Snehashram Jesus Fraternity, he obtained a Master’s degree in biblical theology from St. Peter’s Institute, Bangalore, and a Doctorate from the Dharmaram Institute in the same city. He has held several responsible posts such as director of Catechetics, Vicar of Pathanamthitta Forane, diocesan consultor, protosyncellus or the bishop’s deputy for Ranni and Pathanamthitta, and since 2014 he has been protosyncellus of the diocesan clergy.