Rome: Pope Francis has nominated Monsignor Stephen Chirappanath as Apostolic Visitator for the Syro-Malabar faithful residing in Europe.
This was made public in Rome on Thursday, July 28 at noon local time, corresponding to 15:30 hours, Indian Standard Time.
Monsignor Chirappanath was born on December 25, 1961, at Puthenchira, Eparchy of Irinjalakuda. After philosophical and theological studies at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, he obtained a doctorate in Moral Theology at the Academy of St. Alphonsus in Rome. He speaks Malayalam, English, Italian and German.
He was ordained priest on December 26, 1987, and since then served in the following assignments: Pastor at Padua Nagar, Eparchial Judge at the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal; Director of Navachaithanya and Sanjosadan Drug Rehabilitation Centres; Rector of St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, Irinjalakuda; Professor of Moral Theology at PaurasthyaVidyapitham, Vadavathoor; Procurator and Vice-Rector of St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor.
From 2011 he is the Procurator of the Major Archbishop in Rome and Coordinator for the Syro-Malabar faithful in Italy, offices which he will continue to hold.