New auxiliary bishop elected for Syro-Malabar diocese in Kerala

Mangalore Today News Network

Kerala, Jan 16, 2016:  The catholic press of Kerala reports that Pope Francis has acknowledged the appointment of a new auxiliary bishop to a diocese in India’s Kerala state belonging to the eastern Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

At its meeting at Mount St. Thomas in Kerala, the Syro-Malabar Church Synod elected Father Jose Pulickal as auxiliary bishop of Kanjirapally Diocese, headed by Bishop Mathew Arackal.

Unlike in the Latin church where the pope directly appoints bishops, the synods of Eastern Catholic churches have autonomy in appointing their own bishops, to which the pope gives his assent.