Abp. George Antonysamy Reappointed to Dicastery for Evangelization

New Delhi, August 11, 2026 (CCBI): Pope Leo XIV has reappointed Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, as a member of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, for another five-year term.

According to the decree issued in Rome, Archbishop Antonysamy will continue to contribute to the missionary and evangelizing mission of the universal Church through his service in the Dicastery.

Archbishop Antonysamy was born on February 15, 1952, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, and was ordained a priest on November 19, 1980. He pursued higher studies in Rome and later served in the Vatican diplomatic service.

In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Titular Archbishop of Sulci and Apostolic Nuncio to Gambia, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. He was appointed Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore on November 21, 2012.

Archbishop Antonysamy has held several important responsibilities in the Church in India. He served as Vice President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) from 2017 to 2025 and as Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Canon Law and Legislative Texts from 2015 to 2019. He has also served as Chairman of St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, since 2020.

Pope Francis appointed him a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, now the Dicastery for Evangelization, in November 2020.

His reappointment recognises his extensive experience in evangelization, Church diplomacy, canon law and pastoral leadership and enables him to continue his service to the missionary mission of the universal Church.

By Dr. Stephen Alathara