In a momentous development for the Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu, South India, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu (63) on July 5 as the seventh Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Madurai, marking a new chapter in the life of one of India’s historic Jesuit missions and vibrant archdioceses.
Archbishop Savarimuthu was born on December 8, 1960, and was ordained a priest on April 26, 1987, for the Diocese of Palayamkottai. He was appointed Bishop of Palayamkottai by Pope Francis on November 20, 2019.
His early formation took place at St. Peter’s Minor Seminary in Madurai and later at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore. He pursued higher studies at the Institut Catholique de Paris, earning both a Licentiate and Doctorate in Canon Law.
Over the years, he has served in various significant roles, including Professor at the Minor Seminary in Palayamkottai, Rector of Christ Hall Seminary in Karumathur, Vicar General of the Diocese of Palayamkottai, and Dean of the Institute of Canon Law at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore.
He was serving as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Madurai at the time of his appointment.
His combination of pastoral wisdom, academic excellence, and missionary spirit positions him as a capable leader for the Archdiocese of Madurai.
The Archdiocese of Madurai is rooted in the Madura Mission, established by early French Jesuit missionaries of the Malabar Province. Pioneers such as Fr. Robert De Nobili, St. John De Britto, Fr. Constantine Beschi (Veeramamunivar), and Fr. James De Rossi played foundational roles in spreading the Catholic faith in this region. St. John De Britto, martyred in 1693 at Oriyur, is the patron saint of the archdiocese.
Under its jurisdiction are seven suffragan dioceses located in the southern part of the state of Tamil Nadu.
The appointment of Archbishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu ushers in a new era for the Archdiocese. With a legacy steeped in missionary zeal and faith, and a new shepherd equipped with vision and pastoral strength, the Church in Madurai continues its journey of evangelization, service, and renewal.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
