New Delhi: In a major ecclesiastical development for the Catholic Church in India, Pope Leo XIV has named Rt. Rev. Dr. Elias Frank, the current Bishop of Asansol, as the Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Calcutta. The appointment, made public by the Holy See on Saturday, positions Bishop Elias Frank as the designated successor to the present Archbishop of Calcutta, offering a seamless transition in leadership for one of India’s most historic and influential archdioceses.
Born on August 15, 1962, in Bantwal, Karnataka, Bishop Elias hails from the Diocese of Mangalore. His academic and spiritual journey began with schooling in Modankap and Shillong, after which he entered seminary formation at St. John Mary Vianney Minor Seminary in Barasat. He pursued his philosophical studies at Morning Star Regional Seminary in Barrackpore and went on to Rome for theological formation at the prestigious Pontifical Urbaniana University, where he earned both a licentiate and a doctorate in Canon Law.
Ordained to the priesthood on April 23, 1993, for the Archdiocese of Calcutta, Fr. Elias Frank served in several key pastoral assignments, including Sacred Heart Church in Burdwan and St. Therese of Lisieux in Durgapur. Alongside his parish ministry, he worked as a judge in the Inter-Diocesan Tribunal in Kolkata, demonstrating his legal expertise within the canonical framework of the Church.
Renowned for his academic rigor, Bishop Frank has been a professor of Canon Law in Rome since 2007, with additional teaching roles at the Alfonsian Academy. He has authored theological books, contributed to scholarly journals, and served as an external judge and consultor to various Vatican dicasteries, cementing his stature as both a pastor and a scholar.
Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Asansol on July 3, 2023, and he was consecrated on August 24, 2023. During his tenure, Bishop Elias brought new energy to the diocese, championing educational reform, embracing digital technology in diocesan operations, and fostering spiritual revival across parishes.
His new role as Coadjutor Archbishop includes the right of succession, meaning he will automatically assume leadership of the Archdiocese of Calcutta upon the retirement or resignation of the incumbent archbishop. His appointment is being welcomed with great joy by clergy and laity alike, as his pastoral experience, intellectual acumen, and deep commitment to ecclesial service are seen as timely blessings for a dynamic and evolving archdiocese.
The Church in Calcutta, long associated with stalwart figures such as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, now looks ahead to a new chapter under the guidance of a bishop whose leadership bridges tradition with modern pastoral needs.