January 10, 2013: Father George Madathikandathil, pastor of St. Mary's Church, Arakuzha,
in the Southern Indian state of Kerala has been canonically elected by the Synod of
the Syro-Malabar church to be the bishop of Kothamangalam, which was confirmed by
the Holy See on Thursday, revealed a Vatican Communique. The Synod which met in Mount
Saint Thomas, Kerala, also accepted the resignation of Bishop George Punnakottil from
the pastoral care of the same diocese.
Fr. George Madathikandathil was born
on 9 May 1956 at Purapuzha in the diocese of Kothamangalam. He was ordained a priest
on 23 December 1980 and he served as pastor in parishes of the Cathedral of Arakuzha
of Pyngottoor and Njarakad.
The bishop-designate has a doctorate in canon law
from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. From 1990 to 2010 he taught canon
law at the Pontifical Seminary of St. Thomas Vadavathoor, Kerala, where he also held
the post of Vice-Chancellor and Rector. In addition to Malayalam and English, he speaks
Italian and German.