Kochi: Rt. Rev. Dr Varghese Chakkalakal, Archbishop of Kozhikode, has been elected as the new President of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council. The election took place during the winter session of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council held at the Pastoral Orientation Centre in Palarivattom on Friday.
Archbishop Varghese Chakkalakal was chosen after the completion of the term of Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Archbishop of the Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese and head of the Malankara Catholic Church, who had been serving as the KCBC President.
Along with the President, the council also elected other key office bearers. Most Rev. Dr Samuel Mar Irenios, Bishop of the Pathanamthitta Diocese, was elected as Vice President. Archbishop Mar Thomas Tharayil, Archbishop of Changanacherry, was elected as Secretary General.
The newly elected leadership will serve a three year term. The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council is the apex body representing the Latin, Syro Malabar and Syro Malankara Catholic bishops in Kerala and plays a major role in coordinating pastoral activities, social outreach and the Church’s response to public issues in the state.
The winter session also reviewed current social and pastoral challenges and discussed the Church’s role in promoting unity, education and social responsibility in Kerala.