Varghese Chakkalakal installed as Kozhikode Archbishop

Archbishop Varghese Chakkalakkal installed as first Metropolitan Archbishop of Calicut Archdiocese, elevating the Roman Catholic Church's status.

The Calicut Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church was elevated to the status of an archdiocese, and Bishop Varghese Chakkalakkal was installed as its first Metropolitan Archbishop at a solemn religious congregation witnessed by hundreds of faithful on Sunday (May 25). The official order installing him as archbishop was read out at a formal event hosted on the compound of St. Joseph’s Church in Kozhikode in the evening.

Apostolic Nuncio and Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli led the ritualistic archdiocesan proclamation ceremony and solemn Mass which began at 3 p.m. Bishops from various dioceses, priests, and laymen were present to witness the major ecclesiastical event.

The dignitaries from various dioceses invited to be part of the ceremonies included president of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop Thomas J. Netto from Thiruvananthapuram, Mar Joseph Pamplany from Thalassery, Bishop Alex Vadakumthala from Kannur.

Public Works Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas, M.K. Raghavan, MP, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph, former Minister M.K. Muneer and Mayor Beena Philip were also among those who extended their greetings on the occasion.

It was on April 12, 2025, that the official order on the elevation of the Calicut diocese to archdiocese came from Rome. Expressing delight over the elevation, Archbishop Chakkalakkal had described it as an Easter gift from Pope Francis. The installation ceremony was postponed for over a month following the departure of the Pope on April 21.

Archbishop Chakkalakal was elevated to the post considering his decades of pastoral experience. He was ordained a priest in 1981 and became the first Bishop of Kannur diocese in 1998.

He took charge as the Bishop of Calicut diocese in 2012. He served as secretary general of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council and the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India. Chakkalakkal was also instrumental in the planning and implementation of several charitable activities for the poor.