Bishop Raphael Thattil, new Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church; election conducted by secret ballot

KOCHI: Shamshabad Diocese Bishop Raphael Thattil has been elected as the new Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church. Rafael Thattil was elected through a secret ballot in the event of the resignation of Cardinal Mar George Alencherry. The outgoing Cardinal Mar George Alencherry told the media that Raphael Atthill is the right bishop for the church.

Raphael Thattil responded to the media that he did not think he would become a major archbishop. Let us stick together, let us work together, working together in one body is health, the Bishop said in his speech after the announcement by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil.

Born in Thrissur in 1956, Raphael Thattil is the tenth son of Tresya and Yousef. He was a member of Puthanpalli Parish. He was ordained to the priesthood on 21 December 1980. He completed his priesthood studies in Kottayam and graduated in Philosophy and Theology. Later he went to Rome for higher studies. After returning from Rome, he served as a priest in the Syro-Malabar Church and held various positions in the Church and was promoted to Bishop on 10 April 2010. Then he worked in the Diocese of Thrissur and Bruni. On October 10, 2017, Pope Raphael Thattil was appointed as the Bishop of Shamshabad Diocese.