Pope meets six Indian bishops, apostolic administrator on ‘ad limina’ visit

(May 27, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday received six Indian bishops and an apostolic administrator on their ‘ad limina’ visit to Rome. They are Archbishop Maria Callist Soosa Pakīam of Trivandrum, Bishop Innayya Chinna Addagatla of Srikakulam, Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu of Vijayawada, Fr. Vincent Arackal, Apostolic Administrator of Calicut, Bishop Joseph Kariyil of Cochin, Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal of Kannur and Bishop Joseph Karikkasserry of Kottapuram. An ‘ad limina’ visit is made by the head of every diocese in the world to report on the state of his jurisdiction. It is also an expression of the local Church’s communion with the Pope. Groups of Indian bishops are currently making their ‘ad limina’ visits which will conclude in September.