Kottayam: Fr Thomas Animoottil, a senior priest of the Archeparchy of Kottayam, has been canonically elected auxiliary bishop of the Syro Malabar Church's Archeparchy of Kottayam, with the prior assent of Pope Leo XIV.
The decision was made public on Thursday, August 27. The announcement was made at St Thomas Mount in Kakkanad, where the Syro Malabar Synod is meeting, and in Rome.
Following his election, Fr Animoottil is set to become the third auxiliary bishop of the Archeparchy of Kottayam, alongside Mar Joseph Pandarasseril and Gheevarghese Mar Aprem. Mar Mathew Moolakkatt is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kottayam.
Fr Animoottil, 64, was born on January 13, 1962, in Payyavoor, Kerala. He entered St Stanislaus Minor Seminary in Kottayam for his priestly formation.
He pursued philosophy and theology at St Joseph's Seminary in Mangalore and was ordained a priest on April 13, 1989. He later went to Rome for higher studies at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, where he obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law in 1993.
Following his ordination, Fr Animoottil served the Archeparchy of Kottayam in several pastoral and administrative positions. His assignments included parish priest of Pulinjal, secretary to the eparchial bishop, eparchial chancellor, secretary of the Pastoral Council and ecclesiastical adviser to the Catholic Nurses Guild of India.
He also served as Vicar Forane in Uzhavoor and Kaduthuruthy, taking on pastoral responsibilities in the two areas.
Fr Animoottil served in the United States from 2003 to 2008, where he carried out pastoral ministry among the Knanaya Catholic community.
Since 2025, he has served as Pro Protosyncellus of the Archeparchy of Kottayam.
He has also served as director of Caritas Hospital in Thellakom, Kottayam, and has held responsibilities in social and pastoral institutions associated with the Archeparchy.
The Archeparchy of Kottayam has a historic connection with the Knanaya Catholic community. The community has a significant presence in Kerala as well as among the Knanaya Catholic diaspora in other countries.
The Syro Malabar Synod elected Fr Animoottil under the provisions of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, with the prior assent of Pope Leo XIV.
Fr Animoottil is now bishop elect, pending his episcopal ordination.