Indian bishop appointed Secretary of Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants

(February 22, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday appointed Indian Bishop Joseph
Kalathiparambil of Calicut in Kerala State, as the Secretary of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples. Born 6th October, 1952 at Vaduthala in Kerala, Bishop Kalathiparambil completed his studies in Philosophy at St. Paul’s major seminary in Trichy, and his theological studies at St. Joseph’s Major Seminary at Alwaye. After being ordained priest in March 1978, he served as assistant to the parish priest of St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral at Verapoly. Two years later, he proceeded to Rome, where he graduated in Canon Law at the Pontifical Urbanian University in 1984. Then until 1989, he served as Vice Rector at St. Paul’s Pontifical College. Later, he re-entered the archdiocese of Verapoly in Kerala, where he served first as Chancellor, and from 1998 to 2002, as Vicar General. He was appointed bishop of Calicut Diocese in March 2002 and received his Episcopal ordination in May 2002.