List of Catholic bishops of India

The following is a list of living Catholic bishops of India sorted by ecclesiastical province and diocese. The bishops of India include two major archbishops, one each of the Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankara church, and one of the four titular patriarchs of the Latin Church. There are 6 Indian cardinals, 5 of whom are electors. All the Catholic bishops of India are members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India.

Overview

A summary of the number of bishops in India:^{[note 1]}

Major archbishops: 2
Titular patriarch: 1
Metropolitan archbishops: 26
Archbishop-bishop: 1
Bishops: 135
Bishops of curia: 2
Coadjutor bishop: 1
Auxiliary bishops: 20
Archbishops/bishops emeriti: 88

Total: 276

Cardinals: 6
- Electors: 5
- Non-elector: 1

Vacant sees: 10
- Apostolic administrators: 7
- Major archiepiscopal administrator: 1
- Diocesan administrators: 1

Latin Catholic Provinces

Syro-Malabar Ecclesiastical Provinces

Province of Eranakulam - Angamaly

Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly
- Bishop Sebastian Vaniyapurackal of the curia of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly
- Archbishop Joseph Pamplany, major archiepiscopal administrator of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly
- Major Archbishop emeritus Cardinal George Alencherry of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly
- Archbishop ad personam Antony Kariyil, CMI, major archiepiscopal vicar emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly
- Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Thomas Chakiath of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly
Archbishop ad personam Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Faridabad
- Auxiliary bishop Jose Puthenveettil of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Faridabad
Bishop Sebastian (Jobby) Pozholiparampil of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Hosur
Bishop John Nellikunnel of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Idukki
Bishop George Madathikandathil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Kothamangalam
- Bishop emeritus George Punnakottil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Kothamangalam
- Bishop emeritus Gratian Mundadan, CMI, Apostolic Visitor emeritus, Bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Bijnor
Bishop Antony Prince Panengaden of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Shamshabad
- Auxiliary bishop Joseph Kollamparambil of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Shamshabad
- Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Padiyath of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Shamshabad

Province of Changanassery

Metropolitan Archbishop Thomas Joseph Tharayil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Changanassery
- Metropolitan archbishop emeritus Joseph Perumthottam of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Changanassery
Bishop Jose Pulickal of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Kanjirappally
- Bishop emeritus Mathew Arackal of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Kanjirappally
Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palai
- Bishop emeritus Joseph Pallikaparampil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palai
- Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Jacob Muricken of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palai
Bishop George Rajendran Kuttinadar, SDB of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Thuckalay

Province of Tellicherry

Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Tellicherry
- Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus George Njaralakatt of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Tellicherry
- Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus George Valiamattam of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Tellicherry
Bishop Lawrence Mukkuzhy of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Belthangady
Bishop Joseph Erumachadath, MCBS of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Bhadravathi
Bishop Jose Porunnedom of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Mananthavady
- Auxiliary Bishop Alex Tharamangalam of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Mananthavady
Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Thamarassery
Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Mandya

Province of Thrissur

Metropolitan Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur
- Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus Jacob Thoomkuzhy of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur
- Auxiliary Bishop Tony Neelankavil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur
Bishop Pauly Kannookadan of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda
Bishop Peter Kochupuruckal of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat
- Bishop emeritus Jacob Manathodath of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat
Bishop Paul Alappat of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Ramanathapuram

Archdiocese of Kottayam

Metropolitan Archbishop Mathew Moolakkattu of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam
- Auxiliary Bishop Jose Pandarassery of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam
- Auxiliary Bishop Geevarghese Aprem Kurisummoottil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam

Syro-Malankara Ecclesiastical Provinces

Province of Trivandrum

Major Archbishop Cardinal Baselios Cleemis of the Syro-Malankara Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum
- Auxiliary bishop Mathews Polycarpos Manakkarakavil of the Syro-Malankara Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum
- Bishop Antony Silvanos Kakkanatt of the Curia of the Syro-Malankara Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum and Apostolic Visitor for Syro-Malankara faithful resident in Oceania
Bishop Mathews Pachomius Kadavil, OIC of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of St. Ephrem of Khadki
Bishop Vincent Paulos Kulapuravilai of the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of Marthandom
Bishop Joshua Ignathios Kizhakkeveettil of the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of Mavelikara
Bishop Thomas Eusebius Naickamparampil of the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of Parassala
Bishop Samuel Irenios Kattukallil of the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of Pathanamthitta
- Bishop emeritus Yoohanon Chrysostom Kalloor of the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of Pathanamthitta

Province of Tiruvalla

Metropolitan Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Archeparchy of Tiruvalla
Bishop Joseph Thomas Konnath of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Bathery
Bishop Yoohanon Theodosius Kochuthundil of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Muvattupuzha and Apostolic Visitor for Syro-Malankara faithful resident in Europe
- Bishop emeritus Abraham Julios Kackanatt of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Muvattupuzha
Bishop Geevarghese Makarios Kalayil of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Puthur

Directly under the Holy See

Bishop Thomas Anthonios Valiyavilayil, OIC of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of St. John Chrysostom of Gurgaon

Indian bishops serving abroad

Diocesan bishops and equivalent

Archbishop Alex Thomas Kalayanil, SVD of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Bishop Joy Alappatt of the St. Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago, USA
Bishop Philippos Stephanos Thottathil, Apostolic Exarch of the Syro-Malankara Exarchate of the USA
Bishop Georges Varkey Puthiyakulangara, MEP of the Diocese of Port-Bergé, Madagascar
Bishop Jose Kalluvelil, Apostolic Exarch of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Mississauga
Bishop Joseph Srampickal (born Benny Mathew) of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Great Britain
Bishop Stephen Chirappanath, Apostolic Visitor for the Syro-Malabar faithful in Europe
Bishop Rozario Menezes, SMM of the Diocese of Lae, Papua New Guinea
Bishop Siby Mathew Peedikayil, HGN of the Diocese of Aitape, Papua New Guinea
Bishop Earl Kenneth Fernandes of the Diocese of Columbus, USA (Indian Origin)
Bishop John Panamthottathil, CMI of the St. Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Diocese of Melbourne, Australia

Apostolic nuncios and papal representatives

Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikatt, Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia and Herzegovina , Apostolic Nuncio to Montenegro
Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal, Apostolic Nuncio to Algeria , Apostolic Nuncio to Tunisia
Archbishop George Panamthundil, Apostolic Nuncio to Kazakhstan , Apostolic Nuncio to Kyrgyzstan , Apostolic Nuncio to Tajikistan

Roman curia

Cardinal George Jacob Koovakkad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, head of Apostolic Journeys at of the Secretariat of State, member of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Retired

Archbishop Blasco Francisco Collaço, Apostolic Nuncio emeritus to Swaziland , Lesotho , South Africa , Namibia and Botswana
Archbishop George Panikulam, Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus to Uruguay
Archbishop George Kocherry, Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus to Bangladesh
Bishop emeritus Jacob Angadiath of the St. Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago, USA
Bishop emeritus Bosco Puthur of the St. Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Diocese of Melbourne, Australia

Apostolic nuncio

Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli , Apostolic Nuncio to India

Indian cardinals

Electors

Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Major Archbishop Emeritus of Ernakulam–Angamaly and former Head of the Syro-Malabar Church, age 79
Cardinal Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum and Head of the Malankara Catholic Church, age 65
Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, Metropolitan Archbishop Patriarch of Goa and Daman, age 72
Anthony Cardinal Poola, Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad, age 63
Cardinal George Jacob Koovakkad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, head of Apostolic Journeys at of the Secretariat of State, member of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, age 51

Non-elector

Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Bombay, age 80

Footnotes

^ This summary does not include the Indian bishops serving abroad and the Nuncio. It was last updated on 25 January 2025.
^ The Archbishop of Goa and Daman also carries the title of the Patriarch of the East Indies.

References

[1] This summary does not include the Indian bishops serving abroad and the Nuncio. It was last updated on 25 January 2025.

[2] The Archbishop of Goa and Daman also carries the title of the Patriarch of the East Indies.

[note 1]

[note 2]

Overview

Latin Catholic Provinces

Ecclesiastical Province of Agra

Ecclesiastical Province of Bangalore

Ecclesiastical Province of Bhopal

Ecclesiastical Province of Bombay

Ecclesiastical Province of Calcutta

Ecclesiastical Province of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar

Ecclesiastical Province of Delhi

Ecclesiastical Province of Gandhinagar

Ecclesiastical Province of Goa and Daman

Ecclesiastical Province of Guwahati

Ecclesiastical Province of Hyderabad

Ecclesiastical Province of Imphal

Ecclesiastical Province of Madras and Mylapore

Ecclesiastical Province of Madurai

Ecclesiastical Province of Nagpur

Ecclesiastical Province of Patna

Ecclesiastical Province of Pondicherry and Cuddalore

Ecclesiastical Province of Raipur

Ecclesiastical Province of Ranchi

Ecclesiastical Province of Shillong

Ecclesiastical Province of Thiruvananthapuram

Ecclesiastical Province of Verapoly

Ecclesiastical Province of Visakhapatnam