Pope appoints new Apostolic Visitor for Syro-Malabar residents in India

Vatican City, 11 January 2014: Pope Francis has appointed on Saturday Bishop Raphael Thattil to the office of Apostolic Visitor for the Syro-Malabar residents in India outside the territory of the Major Archiepiscopal Church. Bishop Thattil is the Titular Bishop of Buruni and Auxiliary Bishop of Trichur.

Bishop Raphael Thattil was born on 21 April 1956 in Trichur. After seminary formation in Vadavathoor, he obtained a Doctorate in Oriental Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. He speaks Malayalam, English, Italian and German.

He was ordained a priest on 21 December 1980. Since his ordination he has held the following positions:1981: Assistant to the Vicar Aranattukara
1982: Prefect of the Minor Seminary
1988: Vice Chancellor of the Eparchial Curia
1991: Vice-Rector of the Minor Seminary
1992-1995: Director of the Department of Catechetics
1995-2000: Chancellor and Eparchial Judge
1998-2007: First rector of the seminary "Mary Matha"
2007-2010: Vicar general, Archieparchy of Trichur
18 January 2010: Titular Bishop of Buruni and Auxiliary Bishop of Trichur
10 April 2010: He received episcopal ordination
Source: VR Sedoc