In a historic development, a priest from Kerala is poised to be appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop of a German diocese.
According to Father Jose Kulathur, Chancellor of the Kothamangalam diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Monsignor Joshy Pottakkal, 48, a resident of Meenkunnam under the Kothamangalam diocese and a member of the Carmelite (O.Carm) Kerala Province, has been appointed as the Bishop of the Diocese of Mainz in Germany.
The elevation ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday (March 15, 2026) at Mainz Cathedral (Mainzer Dom). The ceremony will be led by the Bishop of Mainz, Peter Kohlgraf, Archbishop of Freiburg, Stephan Burger, and Bishop Wilmar Santin (O.Carm) of Brazil.
Fr. Kulathur stated that this marks the first time an Indian priest has been elevated to the post of bishop in a German diocese. “Monsignor Pottakkal has been serving as a priest in the Mainz Diocese for the last 21 years. This appointment is a source of pride for the missionary community from Kerala and signifies the Vatican’s endorsement of the Kerala Church,” said Fr. Kulathur.
Prior to this appointment, Monsignor Pottakkal had served in the Mainz diocese youth ministry, as a parish vicar, a forane vicar, and as a diocesan referent in charge of the diocese’s priests.
