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Father Antony Kattiparambil has been appointed the new Bishop of Kochi by Pope Leo XIV. The announcement was made at 3.30 pm IST on Saturday (October 25, 2025). Father Kattiparambil, 55, is serving as the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Cochin. The post of the Bishop of Kochi had been vacant since March 2, 2024, when Bishop Joseph Kariyil resigned after he turned 75, the canonical retirement age for Catholic prelates. After Bishop Kariyil stepped down, Monsignor Shaiju Pariyathussery served as Diocesan Administrator until October 12, 2024. After that Bishop James Raphael Anaparambil of Alleppey was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese. Born on October 14, 1970, in Mundamveli as the youngest among seven children of the late Jacob and the late Treesa, Father Kattiparambil belongs to St. Louis Church, Mundamveli. He began his priestly formation in 1986 at Mount Carmel Petit Seminary, Fort Kochi, and completed his minor seminary studies in 1990. He pursued philosophical studies at St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Aluva (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, Father Kattiparambil served as Assistant Parish Priest at Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi (1998–2002), and at St. Sebastian’s Church, Thoppumpady (2002). He also served as Notary at the Cochin Diocesan Marriage Tribunal (2000–2002). Other roles he has served include Assistant Director of Cochin E-Land Computer Studies, Perumpadappu, Assistant Parish Priest at Chiesa di San Francesco, Prato, Parish Administrator at St. Joseph’s Church, Kumbalangi (2005–2010), Assistant Parish Priest at Sts. Sisinio, Martirio e Alessandro, Brivio, Milan, and at San Pio V, Rome. In 2016, Father Kattiparambil became 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, Fr. Antony has held several key responsibilities including Diocesan Contact Person for the Synod (2021–2023), and Episcopal Vicar for the Religious (2023–2024).
