Antony Kattiparambil appointed new Bishop of Kochi

Father Antony Kattiparambil has been appointed the brand new Bishop of Kochi by Pope Leo XIV. The announcement was made at 3.30 pm IST on Saturday (October 25, 2025). Father Kattiparambil, 55, is serving because the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Cochin.

The put up of the Bishop of Kochi had been vacant since March 2, 2024, when Bishop Joseph Kariyil resigned after he turned 75, the canonical retirement age for Catholic prelates. After Bishop Kariyil stepped down, Monsignor Shaiju Pariyathussery served as Diocesan Administrator till October 12, 2024. After that Bishop James Raphael Anaparambil of Alleppey was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese.

Born on October 14, 1970, in Mundamveli because the youngest amongst seven youngsters of the late Jacob and the late Treesa, Father Kattiparambil belongs to St. Louis Church, Mundamveli.

He started his priestly formation in 1986 at Mount Carmel Petit Seminary, Fort Kochi, and accomplished his minor seminary research in 1990. He pursued philosophical research at St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Aluva (1990–1993), and later moved to Rome for theological formation on the Collegio Urbano (1993–1998). He accomplished his theological research on the Università Urbaniana, Rome (1993–1996), and was ordained a priest on August 15, 1998, by Bishop Joseph Kureethara. He additionally earned a Licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Università Urbaniana (1996–1998) and a Licentiate in Canon Law from the identical college (2013–2016).

After his ordination, Father Kattiparambil served as Assistant Parish Priest at Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi (1998–2002), and at St. Sebastian’s Church, Thoppumpady (2002). He additionally served as Notary on the Cochin Diocesan Marriage Tribunal (2000–2002).

Other roles he has served embrace Assistant Director of Cochin E-Land Computer Studies, Perumpadappu, Assistant Parish Priest at Chiesa di San Francesco, Prato, Parish Administrator at St. Joseph’s Church, Kumbalangi (2005–2010), Assistant Parish Priest at Sts. Sisinio, Martirio e Alessandro, Brivio, Milan, and at San Pio V, Rome.

In 2016, Father Kattiparambil grew to become Parish Priest of St. Martin’s Church, Kallanchery, the place he served till 2021. Since 2023, he has been the Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Church, Kumbalam. Within the Diocese of Cochin, Fr. Antony has held a number of key tasks together with Diocesan Contact Person for the Synod (2021–2023), and Episcopal Vicar for the Religious (2023–2024).