George Kocherry
George Kocherry (born 4 February 1945) is an Indian prelate of the Catholic Church who has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1978, as an archbishop and nuncio since 2000. He has been the Apostolic Nuncio to Bangladesh since 2013.
George Kocherry | |
|---|---|
| Apostolic Nuncio to Bangladesh | |
| Appointed | 6 July 2013 |
| Predecessor | Edward Joseph Adams |
| Other posts | Titular Archbishop of Othona |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 26 June 1974 |
| Consecration | 21 August 2000 by Joseph Powathil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 February 1945 Changanacherry, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Previous post |
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Biography
George Kocherry was born in Changanacherry, Kerala, on 4 February 1945,[1] the eldest of fourteen children.[2]
He left India in 1967 to study philosophy and theology in Rome, where he obtained his doctorate in canon law.[3] He was ordained a priest of the Archeparchy of Changanacherry on 26 June 1974.[1]
To prepare for the diplomatic service, he completed the course of study at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1974.[4]
He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 May 1978. He served in the nunciatures in South Korea, Costa Rica, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Singapore, Switzerland and Australia.[1]
On 10 June 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana and Togo and Titular Archbishop of Othona.[1] He received his episcopal consecration from Archbishop Joseph Powathil on 21 August. As a rare nuncio not raised in the Roman rite, he said: "By my appointment, the Vatican has declared its love and consideration for the Syro-Malabar archdiocese."[2]
He was replaced as nuncio to Togo in November 2002, when Pierre Nguyên Van Tot received that title along with that of nuncio to Benin.[5]
On 22 December 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named him Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe.[6]
On 6 July 2013, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Bangladesh.[7] He held that position when Pope Francis visited Bangladesh in November 2017.
References
- "Rinunce e Nomine, 19.06.2000" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- "Syro-Malabar Church Rejoices over New Nuncio". 25 August 2000. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- "Indian appointed new Bangladesh papal nuncio". UCAN India. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- "Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999" (in Italian). Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- "Rinunce e Nomine, 25.11.2002" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 25 November 2002. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- "Rinunce e Nomine, 22.12.2007" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 22 December 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- "Rinunce e Nomine, 06.07.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vincent Nichols |
Titular Archbishop of Othona 2000 – Present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by André Dupuy |
Apostolic Nuncio to Togo 2000–2002 |
Succeeded by Pierre Nguyên Van Tot |
| Preceded by André Dupuy |
Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana 2000–2007 |
Succeeded by Léon Kalenga Badikebele |
| Preceded by Edward Joseph Adams |
Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe 2007 – 2013 |
Succeeded by Marek Zalewski |
| Preceded by Joseph Marino |
Apostolic Nuncio to Bangladesh 2013 – present |
Incumbent |