Pope appoints Pamplany as vicar of major archbishop

KOCHI: On a day when police forcibly removed a group of 21 priests holding a prayer protest against the Unified Mass, Pope Francis named Archbishop Joseph Pamplany as vicar of the major archbishop for the archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. The laity movement welcomed the appointment.

Saturday’s nomination ratifies the decision of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church synod of bishops, which was in session at Mount St Thomas, in Kakkanad, from January 6 to 11. Mar Pamplany will continue to serve as metropolitan archbishop of Thalassery archdiocese.