Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Dr. Rafi Manjali, a native of Kerala and head of the Archdiocese of Agra, as a member of the Vatican's Secretariat for Interreligious Dialogue. The term of the appointment is for five years. This prestigious role places him within the key body that fosters dialogue between the Catholic Church and other religious traditions. His appointment follows the elevation of Mar George Jacob Koovakkad as the prefect of the same congregation.
Archbishop Manjali was born on February 7, 1958, to M.V. Chacko and Katrina in Kerala. His early schooling took place at St. Francis Xavier School in Vendoor, followed by high school at Alagappanagar. He joined the St. Lawrence Minor Seminary in Agra in 1973 and continued his formation at St. Joseph’s Regional Seminary in Allahabad, completing studies in philosophy and theology in 1983. He later earned both bachelor's and master’s degrees from Agra University.
He was ordained a priest on May 11, 1983, by Bishop Mar Joseph Kundukulam of Thrissur. His rise through ecclesiastical ranks saw him appointed as Bishop of Varanasi in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI. Later, Pope Francis named him Bishop of Allahabad in 2013 and Archbishop of Agra in 2020.
Archbishop Manjali’s appointment to the Secretariat for Interreligious Dialogue highlights the Vatican’s trust in his ability to foster mutual understanding and cooperation between faith communities across the globe.