Verapoly (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Joseph (Joy) Kalathiparambil, Archbishop
Antony Valumkal, Auxiliary Bishop
Francis Kallarakal, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 1 September 1886
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 1,500 (579 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://verapoly.in/
Mailing Address: Latin Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 2581, Kochi-682031, Kerala, India
Telephone: (0484)2396.542
Fax: 2360.911

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar
- Latin Name: Serrae Malabarium
- Erected: 17 December 1659
- Vicariate
- Country: India
Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly
- Name Changed: 1709
- Vicariate
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Giuseppe Maria Sebastiani, O.C.D. † (14 Dec 1659 Appointed - 22 Aug 1667 Appointed, Bishop of Bisignano)
Thomas de Castro (Laino), C.R. † (30 Aug 1675 Appointed - 16 Jul 1685 Died)
Raphael de Figueredo † (16 Jul 1685 Succeeded - 12 Oct 1695 Died)
Custodio do Pinho † (16 Jan 1694 Appointed - 14 Apr 1697 Died)
Angelo Vigliotti, O.C.D. † (20 Feb 1700 Appointed - 16 Oct 1712 Died)
Giovanni Battista Maria Multedo, O.C.D. † (1 Feb 1714 Appointed - 6 Apr 1750 Died)
Mikołaj Szostak, O.C.D. † (6 Apr 1750 Succeeded - 26 Jul 1773 Died)
Eustach Federl, O.C.D. † (27 Jul 1774 Appointed - 23 Aug 1779 Resigned)
Giuseppe Antonio Albertini, O.C.D. † (23 Dec 1780 Appointed - )
Luigi Pianazzi, O.C.D. † (30 Mar 1784 Appointed - 2 Apr 1802 Died)
Paolo Antonio Roviglia, O.C.D. † (6 Mar 1803 Appointed - 18 Aug 1815 Resigned)
Myles Prendergast, O.C.D. † (18 Sep 1818 Appointed - 5 May 1827 Resigned)
Francesco Saverio (di Sant’Anna) Pescetto, O.C.D. † (8 Mar 1831 Appointed - 1840 Resigned)
Louis (de Sainte Thérèse) Martini, O.C.D. † ( 1840 Succeeded - 10 Nov 1855 Resigned)
Bernardo of St. Theresa (Giuseppe) Baccinelli, O.C.D. † (24 May 1859 Appointed - 5 Sep 1868 Died)
Leonardo de St. Louis Mellano, O.C.D. † (5 Sep 1868 Succeeded - 19 Aug 1897 Died)
Felipe Arguinzonis y Astorbiza, O.C.D. † (19 Aug 1897 Succeeded - 18 Dec 1918 Resigned)
Ángel María Pérez y Cecilia, O.C.D. † (18 Dec 1918 Succeeded - 12 Nov 1934 Resigned)
Joseph Attipetty † (15 Nov 1934 Succeeded - 21 Jan 1970 Died)
Joseph Kelanthara † (16 Jan 1971 Appointed - 19 Oct 1986 Died)
Cornelius Elanjikal † (26 Jan 1987 Appointed - 14 Jun 1996 Retired)
Daniel Acharuparambil, O.C.D. † (14 Jun 1996 Appointed - 26 Oct 2009 Died)
Francis Kallarakal (20 Feb 2010 Appointed - 31 Oct 2016 Retired)
Joseph (Joy) Kalathiparambil (31 Oct 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar
17 December 1659	Erected	Diocese of Cochin	Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly
1709	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar	Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly
1838	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Cranganore (Angamala) (suppressed)	Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly
13 March 1853	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly	Vicariate Apostolic of Mangalore (erected)
15 March 1853	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly	Vicariate Apostolic of Quilon (erected)
20 May 1887	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly	Vicariate Apostolic of Kottayam (Syro-Malabar) (erected) Vicariate Apostolic of Trichur (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
Archdiocese of Verapoly
1 September 1886	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly	Archdiocese of Verapoly
14 July 1930	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Verapoly (Asamannur, Perumbavoor, Vengoor, Rayamangalam, and Cheranallur (all in Kunnatnad), Muvattupuzha, Todupuzha, Devicolam, Peermade, Minachil, Kottayam, and Changanacherry along with parts of Tiruvalla, Pathanamtitta, and Amabalapulai)	Diocese of Vijayapuram (erected)
3 July 1987	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Verapoly (Northern part)	Diocese of Kottapuram (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Verapoly

1950 129,716 1,591,534 8.2% 89 52 141 919 87 286 45 ap1951

1970 648,432 2,500,000 25.9% 108 75 183 3,543 113 559 53 ap1971

1980 252,944 4,488,000 5.6% 116 78 194 1,303 202 736 69 ap1981

1990 24,754 2,293,575 1.1% 106 64 170 145 148 721 102 ap1991

1999 252,558 2,490,145 10.1% 185 118 303 833 268 882 132 ap2000

2000 266,060 2,539,948 10.5% 192 133 325 818 259 900 134 ap2001

2001 256,353 2,590,747 9.9% 192 134 326 786 340 923 139 ap2002

2002 262,284 2,642,562 9.9% 212 144 356 736 361 923 142 ap2003

2003 269,593 2,695,413 10.0% 204 147 351 768 463 951 143 ap2004

2004 269,946 2,749,321 9.8% 208 147 355 760 469 950 143 ap2005

2010 315,767 3,193,096 9.9% 157 169 326 968 491 1,075 158 ap2011

2014 321,553 3,353,820 9.6% 179 197 376 855 313 1,113 164 ap2014

2017 348,465 3,534,985 9.9% 184 146 330 1,055 209 1,120 180 ap2018

2020 356,444 3,829,981 9.3% 199 164 363 981 248 1,238 191 ap2021

2022 364,374 3,869,390 9.4% 200 172 372 979 245 1,323 183 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Verapoly
1950	129,716	1,591,534	8.2%	89	52	141	919	87	286	45	ap1951
1970	648,432	2,500,000	25.9%	108	75	183	3,543	113	559	53	ap1971
1980	252,944	4,488,000	5.6%	116	78	194	1,303	202	736	69	ap1981
1990	24,754	2,293,575	1.1%	106	64	170	145	148	721	102	ap1991
1999	252,558	2,490,145	10.1%	185	118	303	833	268	882	132	ap2000
2000	266,060	2,539,948	10.5%	192	133	325	818	259	900	134	ap2001
2001	256,353	2,590,747	9.9%	192	134	326	786	340	923	139	ap2002
2002	262,284	2,642,562	9.9%	212	144	356	736	361	923	142	ap2003
2003	269,593	2,695,413	10.0%	204	147	351	768	463	951	143	ap2004
2004	269,946	2,749,321	9.8%	208	147	355	760	469	950	143	ap2005
2010	315,767	3,193,096	9.9%	157	169	326	968	491	1,075	158	ap2011
2014	321,553	3,353,820	9.6%	179	197	376	855	313	1,113	164	ap2014
2017	348,465	3,534,985	9.9%	184	146	330	1,055	209	1,120	180	ap2018
2020	356,444	3,829,981	9.3%	199	164	363	981	248	1,238	191	ap2021
2022	364,374	3,869,390	9.4%	200	172	372	979	245	1,323	183	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Francis Assisi Chullikatt (Priest: 3 Jun 1978 to 29 Apr 2006)
Joseph Kaithathara
Joseph (Joy) Kalathiparambil (Priest: 13 Mar 1978 to 19 Apr 2002; Archbishop: 31 Oct 2016 - )
Francis Kallarakal (Priest: 29 Jun 1968 to 3 Jul 1987; Archbishop: 20 Feb 2010 to 31 Oct 2016)
Joseph Karikkassery (Priest: 19 Dec 1973; Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Nov 2006 to 18 Dec 2010)
Dennis Kuruppassery
Ambrose Puthenveettil
Alex Joseph Vadakumthala (Priest: 19 Dec 1984 to 1 Feb 2014)
Antony Valumkal (Priest: 11 Apr 1994; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 May 2024)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Daniel Acharuparambil, O.C.D. † (Archbishop: 14 Jun 1996 to 26 Oct 2009)
Giuseppe Antonio Albertini, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 23 Dec 1780)
Felipe Arguinzonis y Astorbiza, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 14 Jan 1896; Archbishop: 19 Aug 1897 to 18 Dec 1918)
Joseph Attipetty † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 29 Nov 1932; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1934 to 21 Jan 1970)
Bernardo of St. Theresa (Giuseppe) Baccinelli, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 May 1859 to 5 Sep 1868)
Giovanni Battista Antonio Bartolomeo Marcellino Berardi, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 17 Aug 1877 to 21 Mar 1892)
Thomas de Castro (Laino), C.R. † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 Aug 1675 to 16 Jul 1685)
Custodio do Pinho † (Vicar Apostolic: 16 Jan 1694 to 14 Apr 1697)
Cornelius Elanjikal † (Archbishop: 26 Jan 1987 to 14 Jun 1996)
Eustach Federl, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Jul 1774 to 23 Aug 1779)
Raphael de Figueredo † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 3 Mar 1677; Vicar Apostolic: 16 Jul 1685 to 12 Oct 1695)
Joseph Kelanthara † (Archbishop: 16 Jan 1971 to 19 Oct 1986)
Louis (de Sainte Thérèse) Martini, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 7 Jun 1839; Vicar Apostolic: 1840 to 10 Nov 1855)
Leonardo de St. Louis Mellano, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 5 Jul 1868; Vicar Apostolic: 5 Sep 1868; Archbishop (Personal Title): 25 Nov 1886 to 19 Aug 1897)
Giovanni Battista Maria Multedo, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1 Feb 1714 to 6 Apr 1750)
Ángel María Pérez y Cecilia, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 18 Jun 1915; Archbishop: 18 Dec 1918 to 12 Nov 1934)
Francesco Saverio (di Sant’Anna) Pescetto, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Mar 1831 to 1840)
Luigi Pianazzi, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 Mar 1784 to 2 Apr 1802)
Myles Prendergast, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Sep 1818 to 5 May 1827)
Paolo Antonio Roviglia, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 6 Mar 1803 to 18 Aug 1815)
Juan a Santa Margarita, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 7 Mar 1778 to 27 May 1780)
Giuseppe Maria Sebastiani, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Dec 1659 to 22 Aug 1667)
Maurelio Stabellini, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 26 May 1827 to 1837)
Joannes Antonius Stratman, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 3 Mar 1738 to 19 Jan 1746)
Mikołaj Szostak, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 19 Jan 1746; Vicar Apostolic: 6 Apr 1750 to 26 Jul 1773)
Anthony Thannikot † (Priest: 14 Mar 1964; Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Dec 1978 to 24 Feb 1984)
Giorgio Antonio Vareschi, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 15 Sep 1764 to 15 May 1773)
Angelo Vigliotti, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 20 Feb 1700 to 16 Oct 1712)