Administrative change in Ernakulam-Angamaly Archidiocese: Mar Joseph Pamplany appointed as vicar to Major Archbishop

Ernakulam: An administrative change was implemented in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese on Saturday amid tensions over the ongoing unified mass dispute. According to a statement from the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Curia, Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany has been appointed as the Vicar of the Major Archbishop for the Archdiocese, a decision ratified by Pope Francis.

This followed Bishop Bosco Puthur's resignation as Apostolic Administrator, which he submitted in September 2024, citing health reasons. The statement added that the Apostolic See has now entrusted the governance of the Archdiocese to the Major Archbishop.

Mar Pamplany was elected during the first session of the 33rd Synod, which took place from January 6 to 11. He will assume this role in addition to his current position as Archbishop of the Thalassery Archdiocese.

Tensions escalated outside the Bishop House as police removed priests who had been on an indefinite hunger strike. The action sparked outrage among priests and believers, who accused the police of heavy-handedness and criticised Ernakulam ACP C Jayakumar for allegedly stating that the government opposed the Archdiocese, reported PTI. The officer has denied these allegations.

Later, protesters attempted to breach the gates of the Bishop House. They tied a rope to the gate and broke open one half before being pushed back by the police, who subsequently installed barricades to prevent further attempts. In response to the volatile situation, District Collector N SK Umesh arrived at the scene and held discussions with stakeholders to defuse tensions, church sources told PTI.