Pope Francis Daily

The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Thomas Thennatt, as bishop of Gwalior, India. He is a priest of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (SAC).

Thomas Thennatt was born in 1953 in Koodalloor, India, gave his solemn vows in 1975 and was ordained a priest in 1978. He belongs to the group of Syro-Malabar faithful known as Canaanites. He studied theology in the seminary of Poona and has served in a number of pastoral roles.

He is currently parish priest in Mankapur, in the archdiocese of Nagpur, member of the Commission for Christian Life, and president of the Pastoral Commission of the Province. He succeeds Bishop Joseph Kaithathara, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese was accepted by the Holy Father.

The diocese has a population of 6.5 million but with less than 5,000 Catholics. They are served by around 35 priests and 80 religious.