New Delhi: In a momentous announcement for the Catholic Church in India, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Most Rev. Elias Frank as the new Archbishop of Calcutta. The Vatican confirmed the appointment today, signaling the beginning of a new chapter for one of India’s most historic and influential dioceses.
Born on 15 August 1962 in Bantwal, Karnataka, Bishop Elias Frank hails from the Diocese of Mangalore. He completed his early schooling in Modankap and Shillong before commencing his priestly formation at St. John Mary Vianney Minor Seminary in Barasat. He later pursued philosophy at Morning Star Regional Seminary, Barrackpore, and theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, where he earned both a licentiate and a doctorate in Canon Law, reflecting his deep academic and spiritual formation.
Ordained as a priest on 23 April 1993 for the Archdiocese of Calcutta, Bishop Frank served in multiple parishes, including Sacred Heart Church in Burdwan and St. Therese of Lisieux in Durgapur. His ministry also extended to judicial roles as a judge at the Inter-Diocesan Tribunal in Kolkata, demonstrating his expertise in Canon Law. Since 2007, he has contributed to academia as a professor of Canon Law in Rome and a visiting professor at the Alfonsian Academy, while publishing numerous books and scholarly articles. He also served as an external judge and consultor for various Vatican dicasteries, bridging pastoral care with ecclesiastical jurisprudence.
Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Asansol on 3 July 2023, and he was consecrated on 24 August 2023. Further recognizing his leadership abilities, Pope Leo XIV named him Coadjutor Bishop of the Archdiocese of Calcutta on 28 June 2025, preparing him to take full pastoral responsibility.
With this new appointment, Bishop Elias Frank inherits the mantle of shepherding the Archdiocese during a time of spiritual growth and social outreach. Observers note that his extensive pastoral experience, combined with academic and canonical expertise, positions him to guide the faithful of Calcutta with both compassion and wisdom. Clergy and laity alike have expressed optimism that Archbishop Frank’s leadership will continue to strengthen community engagement, educational initiatives, and interfaith dialogue in the city and beyond.
The Archdiocese of Calcutta now anticipates a period of renewed vigor under Archbishop Elias Frank, as he begins his mission to build upon the legacy of his predecessors while addressing the spiritual and social challenges of the modern era.