Raphael Thattil

Raphael Thattil was born in Trichur, Kerala on 21 April 1956 as the youngest of 10 Children of Ouseph and Thresia Thattil and was a member of the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours. In 1971, He began his priestly formation at the St. Mary's Minor Seminary in Trichur and completed his studies at the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary (Paurastya Vidyapitam), Vadavathoor, Kottayam for Philosophy and Theology. On 21 December 1980, Mar Joseph Kundukulam ordained him as a priest for the Archdiocese of Thrissur at his home parish of the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours. He was sent for further studies at the Pontifical Oriental InstituteinRome by Bishop Kundukulam for a doctorate in Oriental Canon Law.^[2]

Thattil began his Priestly Ministry as the Assistant Vicar in Aranattukara and as the Assistant Procurator at St. Mary's Minor Seminary in Trichur (his alma mater). In 1988 After his studies he was appointed by Mar Kundukulam as the Vice Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Vice Rector of St. Mary's Minor Seminary, and Diocesan Biblical Catechetical Liturgical Center Director. In 1998, When Jacob Thoomkuzhy was appointed Archbishop, He served under the Archbishop as the Chancellor and Eparchical Judge of the Archdiocese which he held until 2000. In 1998, Thoomkuzhy also appointed him as the First Rector of the Mary Matha Major Seminary. When Andrews Thazhath became archbishop in 2007, He asked Thattil to serve as the Protosyncellus of the Archdiocese. A role which he held until his appointment as bishop.^[3]

On 18 January 2010, Raphael Thattil was elected by the Synod of Bishops to serve as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur and was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the Titular BishopofBuruni. He was ordained a bishop on 10 April 2010 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours by Trichur Archbishop Andrews Thazhath in the presence of Trichur Archbishop Emeritus Jacob Thoomkuzhy and Palaghat Bishop Jacob Manathodath. During his role, he served as the Chairman of Kerala Charismatic Movement for the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council and the Manager of St. Thomas College, Thrissur. He was also chosen as the ecclesiastical adviser of Jesus Youth.^[4][5]

On 23 December 2013, At the Request of Leonardo Sandri and George Alencherry, Pope Francis appointed Thattil as the Apostolic Visitator for all the lay faithful of the Syro Malabar Church living in India outside their own Territory (without an Eparchy of their own). During his time as Apostolic Visitator, he brought 88 Priests to work in the Mission and served 23 states, 2 Union Territories, and 2 Islands.^[6][7]

On 10 October 2017, Francis announced the erection of the Eparchy of Shamshabad based in Shamshabad, Telangana but would serve 23 states, two union territories and two islands that were not included in any other Syro Malabar Eparchies. In a letter to all the bishops of India, Francis announced the "All India Jurisdiction" of the Syro-Malabar Church. The Eparchy was created with 130,000 Syro-Malabar Catholics with a Catherdal in the name of St. AlphonsainKukatpally. The Eparchy is the largest in all of India and during his tenure as bishop, He established 50 Parishes and 85 Missions throughout the territories. On 25 August 2022, He received two Auxiliary Bishops to assist him in Thomas Padiyath and Joseph Kollamparambil making history in church as being the only diocese other than the Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly to receive two auxiliary bishops.^[8][9][10]

On 9 January 2024, the Synod of Bishops convened and elected Raphael Thattil as the fourth Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church replacing George Alencherry. Francis addressed a letter to the newly elected Major Archbishop with his consent. On 10 January 2024, it was announced simultaneously at the Vatican and at a Press Conference at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad. He was installed in a simple ceremony at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad on 11 January 2024.^{[11][12][13][14]}

• Vatican biography
• Archbishop Raphael ThattilatCatholic-Hierarchy.org