2 months ago
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In a historical development, a clergyman from Kerala is poised to beryllium appointed arsenic an Auxiliary Bishop of a German diocese.
According to Father Jose Kulathur, Chancellor of the Kothamangalam diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Monsignor Joshy Pottakkal, 48, a nonmigratory of Meenkunnam nether the Kothamangalam diocese and a subordinate of the Carmelite (O.Carm) Kerala Province, volition beryllium elevated to the station of Bishop of the Diocese of Mainz successful Germany.
The elevation ceremonial volition instrumentality spot astatine 3 p.m. connected Sunday (March 15, 2026) at Mainz Cathedral (Mainzer Dom). The ceremonial volition beryllium led by the Bishop of Mainz, Peter Kohlgraf, Archbishop of Freiburg, Stephan Burger, and Bishop Wilmar Santin (O.Carm) of Brazil.
Fr. Kulathur stated that this marks the archetypal clip an Indian clergyman has been elevated to the station of bishop successful a German diocese. “Monsignor Pottakkal has been serving arsenic a clergyman successful the Mainz Diocese for the past 21 years. This assignment is simply a root of pridefulness for the missionary assemblage from Kerala and signifies the Vatican’s endorsement of the Kerala Church,” said Fr. Kulathur.
Prior to this appointment, Monsignor Pottakkal had served successful the Mainz diocese younker ministry, arsenic a parish vicar, a forane vicar, and arsenic a diocesan referent successful complaint of the diocese’s priests.
Church authorities noted that portion overseas churches typically bash not name non-natives to cardinal enactment positions, Monsignor Pottakkal has emerged arsenic a profoundly trusted fig wrong the German community, starring to his historical elevation.
Bishop George Madathikandathil of the Kothamangalam Diocese and respective different priests person already reached Germany to be the ceremony.
Germany is location to a increasing colonisation of nurses and professionals from Kerala. The elevation of a Keralite clergyman to specified a precocious station is simply a important milestone for the assemblage residing successful Germany.
