By Natters India Reporter
NEW DELHI, August 27, 2026: The Synod of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church has canonically elected Father Thomas Animoottil, 64, as auxiliary bishop of the Archeparchy of Kottayam, with the prior assent of Pope Leo XIV, according to Catholic Connect.
The appointment was made public August 27 in accordance with Canon 184 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
Born Janyary 13, 1962, in Payyavoor, Kerala, Bishop-elect Animoottil completed his early education there before pursuing university studies in Mysore.
He entered St. Stanislaus Minor Seminary in Kottayam and later studied philosophy and theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Mangalore. He was ordained a priest on April 13, 1989.
Bishop-elect Animoottil earned a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome in 1993.
During his priestly ministry, he served as parish priest of Pulinjal and held several leadership roles, including secretary to the eparchial bishop, eparchial chancellor, pastoral council secretary, and vicar forane.
From 2003 to 2008, he ministered in the United States. Since 2025, he has served as pro-protosyncellus of the Archeparchy of Kottayam
.
(Photo supplied)