By George Kommattam
Calicut, May 26, 2025: More than 10,000 people braved heavy rains to attend a ceremony to elevate Calicut diocese as a metropolitan archdiocese and its bishop as its first metropolitan archbishop.
Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli led the May 25 ceremonies at St. Joseph’s Church, in Kozhikode (formerly Calicut).
In his homily during the inaugural Mass, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and president of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, stressed the deep spiritual significance of occasion. He commended the faith and leadership of the faithful of the newly erected archdiocese.
The cardinal paid tribute to St. Francis Xavier, whose missionary zeal in the Malabar region laid the foundation for the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches. He noted that Calicut’s new archdiocesan status stands as a testament to this enduring spiritual legacy, rooted in centuries of evangelization and community witness.
At the public function following the liturgical celebrations, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur congratulated Archbishop Varghese Chakkalakal, highlighting his historic role as the first bishop of Kannur and now the first archbishop of Calicut. He offered prayers for God’s continued grace and guidance in Archbishop Chakkalakal’s pastoral ministry.
Archbishop Thomas J. Netto of Trivandrum expressed the hope that the new archbishop would continue to walk closely with the people and serve as a “shepherd of hope” in a world troubled by conflict and uncertainty.
Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry conveyed greetings on behalf of the migrant community, recognizing the broader impact of the new archdiocese beyond its immediate geographic region.
Bishop Alex Vadakumthala of Kannur, in his address, recalled Archbishop Chakkalakal’s pioneering leadership in the early days of his diocese.
On the occasion, Archbishop Chakkalakal released the official history book of the Archdiocese of Calicut.
The elevation of Calicut marks a new chapter in the Church’s mission in northern Kerala, with the dioceses of Kannur and Sultanpet becoming its suffragans.
The Diocese of Calicut, was established on June 12, 1923, by Pope Pius XI with jurisdiction of the Malabar region. It was carved out of the diocese of Mangalore.
The diocese initially had about 8,000 Catholics, mainly concentrated in Calicut, Tellicherry, and Cannanore.
Before the Calicut’s formation, the region was under the Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar, which was divided in 1878 and entrusted to the Jesuits of the Venetian province. The diocese was managed by Jesuits for its first 32 years.
The Jesuits laid a strong foundation in evangelization, education, and social development, especially among tribal and marginalized communities. In 1960, the Hosdurg Taluk was added to the diocese, further expanding its territory.
Over the decades, Calicut witnessed steady growth due to migration from the southern parts of Kerala, especially Travancore and Cochin. By the mid-20th century, the Catholic population rose dramatically, with a majority of the faithful being Latins, alongside a significant number of Syrians.
This growth led to administrative changes; in 1954, the Syro-Malabar faithful were placed under the newly erected diocese of Tellicherry to better address their pastoral needs.
A notable part of the Calicut diocese was the Chirakkal Mission, focused on the social, educational, and financial upliftment of Dalits and scheduled tribes.
Education and healthcare have been pillars of the diocese’s work since its inception. From humble beginnings with just a handful of schools and charitable institutions, the diocese now oversees over a hundred schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the elderly.
Several dioceses have been carved out from the original territory of Calicut to better serve the faithful. The Diocese of Kannur was created in 1998, followed by the Diocese of Sultanpet in 2013.
These divisions helped decentralize administration and pastoral care, addressing the growing Catholic population spread across northern Kerala.
Leadership in the diocese has transitioned from Jesuit bishops to native clergy, beginning with Bishop Maxwell V. Noronha in 1980.
Archbishop Chakkalakal took charge in 2012.
Archbishop Chakkalakal was born on February 7, 1953, in Malapallipuram parish under Kottapuram Latindiocese, in the Thrissur district of Kerala.
After schooling, he entered the seminary in 1971 for the diocese of Calicut. After his philosophy and theological studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Mangalore, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Maxwell Noronha on April 2, 1981.
He has a doctorate in Canon law from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome.
He was appointed the Kannur bishop on November 5, 1998, and was consecrated on February 7, 1999.
He was transferred to the Diocese of Calicut on May 15, 2012. The diocese was vacant after Bishop Joseph Kalathiparambil was appointed secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People at the Vatican.
Immensely happy and thankful to God for the progressive pastoral mission of the Latin dioceses in the Malabar area.All the more so for the elevation of Kozhikode diocese into Archdiocese having Cannoore and Sulthanpet dioceses as its sufragans.Hihly appreciate and thank God.