New Bishop for Kozhikode Diocese

KANNUR: Dr Varghese Chakkalakkal, the first bishop of the Kannur diocese, has been appointed bishop of the Kozhikode diocese by the Pope. The announcement in this regard was made at 12 noon Italian time by the Pope in the Vatican. The announcement was also read out at 3.30 pm (corresponding Indian time) on Tuesday by Fr Antony Francis, Chancellor of the Kannur diocese, in the presence of a gathering of priests and  nuns at the Kannur Bishop’s House.Dr Varghese Chakkalakkal is taking over as the sixth bishop of the Kozhikode diocese, that was established in 1923. He fills the slot of Joseph Kalathiparambil, who was posted as secretary of overseas affairs at Vatican.According to a statement issued by the Kannur Bishop’s House, Dr Chakkalakkal will also continue as administrator of the Kannur diocese till a new bishop is posted here. Dr Chakkalakkal, who joined the seminary in 1971, was ordained as priest on April 2, 1981, at the Mother God Cathedral, Kozhikode. He took his doctorate in Canon Law from Urban University, Rome, and has served as professor and Dean of Studies at St Joseph’s Inter-diocesan Seminary, Mangalore. He was ordained a bishop on February 7, 1999.