Pope Francis Daily

The Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar major archiepiscopal Church, after accepting the resignation from the pastoral care of the Eparchy of Idukki of the Syro-Malabars, India, presented by H.E. Msgr. Mathew Anikuzhikattil and after receiving prior pontifical assent for the candidates to the episcopate, has elected as bishop of the same Eparchy the Rev. John Nellikunnel, currently dean of the faculty of philosophy at Saint Joseph”€™s Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha.

Rev. John Nellikunnel

Rev. John Nellikunnel was born on March 22, 1973, in Kadaplamattom, in the Eparchy of Palai. After attending Saint Joseph”€™s minor seminary in Kothamangalam, he took the institutional courses in philosophy and theology at the Saint Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor. He was ordained a priest on December 30, 1998, and he then exercised his ministry in various parishes. He was sent to Rome for higher studies, obtaining a licentiate and doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas. Returning home, he held the following offices: eparchial chancellor, secretary to the bishop, director of catechesis and the biblical apostolate, and professor and subsequently dean of the faculty of philosophy at Saint Joseph”€™s Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha.

JF