New Bishop for Rajkot

VATICAN CITY, July 19, 2010, 11:30 Hrs (VIS):

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr. Jose Chittooparambil, C.M.I., as Bishop of the eparchy of Rajkot of the Syro-Malabar (area 109,950, population 15,805,000, Catholics 13,500, priests 149, religious 606), in India.

The bishop-elect was born in 1954 in Neeleswaram, India, was ordained to the priesthood in 1985, and is currently Prior General of St. Xavier's Province in Rajkot.

He succeeds Bishop Gregory Karotemprel, C.M.I., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese the Holy Father accepted on having reached the age limit.