Mattersindia reporter
New Delhi, Oct 25, 2025 –– Pope Leo XIV has appointed Father Antony Kattiparambil as the new bishop of Cochin in Kerala. The announcement was made on October 25.
Fifty-five-year-old Father Kattiparambil is currently serving as the judicial vicar of the diocese of Cochin.
the bishop-elect was born on October 14, 1970, in Mundamveli, as the youngest of seven children of the late Jacob and the late Treesa.
He completed his schooling at St. Louis School, Mundamveli, and his pre-degree course at Aquinas College, Edacochin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Kerala University and a Bachelor of Philosophy from St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye.
The bishop-elect began his priestly formation in 1986 at Mount Carmel Petit Seminary, Fort Cochin, and completed his minor seminary studies in 1990. He pursued philosophical studies at St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye (1990–1993), and later moved to Rome for theological formation at the Collegio Urbano (1993–1998).
He completed his theological studies at the Università Urbaniana, Rome (1993–1996), and was ordained a priest on August 15, 1998 by Bishop Joseph Kureethara. He also earned a Licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Università Urbaniana (1996–1998) and a Licentiate in Canon Law from the same university (2013–2016).
After his ordination, her served as assistant parish priest at Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Cochin (1998–2002), and briefly at St. Sebastian’s Church, Thoppumpady (2002). During this period, he also worked as notary at the Cochin Diocesan Marriage Tribunal (2000–2002).
From 2002 to 2006, he was assistant director of Cochin E-Land Computer Studies, Perumpadappu. Alongside this role, he directed an IT project for Multidata, Prato, Italy (2002–2005), and ministered as assistant parish priest at Chiesa di San Francesco, Prato (2002–2005).
On returning to India, he served as parish administrator at St. Joseph’s Church, Kumbalanghi (2005–2010). He later continued his pastoral ministry in Italy as assistant parish priest at Sts. Sisinio, Martirio e Alessandro, Brivio, Milan (2010–2013), and at San Pio V, Rome (2013–2016).
In 2016, he became the parish priest of St. Martin’s Church, Kallanchery, where he served until 2021. Since 2023, he has been the parish priest of St. Joseph’s Church, Kumbalam.
Within the diocese of Cochin, the bishop-elect has held several key responsibilities. He has served as judicial vicar since 2016, diocesan contact person for the Synod (2021–2023), and Episcopal Vicar for the Religious (2023–2024).
The Diocese of Cochin became vacant following the resignation of Bishop Joseph Kariyil on March 2, 2024. Bishop James Anaparambil of Alleppey was appointed administrator on October 12, 2024.
The Diocese of Cochin has 182,324 Catholics, 134 diocesan priests, 116 religious priests, 545 religious sisters, and 78 parishes.