Pope appoints Pamplany as vicar of major archbishop

Archbishop Cyril Vasil will remain the pontifical delegate for the Ernakulam-Angamaly archeparchy.
Archbishop of Thalasseery Mar Joseph Pamplany appointed vicar of the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam Angamaly Archeparchy
Archbishop of Thalasseery Mar Joseph Pamplany appointed vicar of the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam Angamaly Archeparchy
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KOCHI: On a day when police forcibly removed a group of 21 priests holding a prayer protest against the Unified Mass, Pope Francis named Archbishop Joseph Pamplany as vicar of the major archbishop for the archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. The laity movement welcomed the appointment.

Saturday’s nomination ratifies the decision of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church synod of bishops, which was in session at Mount St Thomas, in Kakkanad, from January 6 to 11. Mar Pamplany will continue to serve as metropolitan archbishop of Thalassery archdiocese.

Earlier, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Apostolic Administrator Bosco Puthur. Mar Puthur had submitted his resignation last September citing health issues. He was appointed apostolic administrator of the archeparchy on December 7, 2023, after his resignation from the office of the bishop of the eparchy of Melbourne.

Archbishop Cyril Vasil will remain the pontifical delegate for Ernakulam-Angamaly archeparchy. With his latest appointment, Mar Pamplany will hold ordinary administrative responsibilities for the archeparchy. The post of apostolic administrator has, however, been abolished.

The office of the vicar of the major archbishop will function according to guidelines approved by the synod. The office was first introduced in 2019 when Major Archbishop George Alencherry appointed Archbishop Antony Kariyil to the position.

Born in 1969, Mar Pamplany was ordained priest in 1997. He pursued higher studies in sacred scripture and earned a doctorate from the Leuven University in Belgium. 

Pamplany serves as secretary of synod

He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Thalassery on September 1, 2017 and was consecrated on November 8. He was elevated as metropolitan archbishop of Thalassery on April 22, 2022.

Mar Pamplany serves as secretary of the synod and member of the permanent synod. He is also chairman of the Syro-Malabar commission for doctrine, member of the Syro-Malabar commission for public affairs, chairman of the IKCBC commission for media and member of the CBCI commission for doctrine.

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