Bishop Antonysamy is Appointed as Archbishop of Madurai

New Delhi July 5, 2025 (CCBI): The Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu, until now Bishop of Palayamkottai and the Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Canon Law as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Madurai on July 5, 2025.

Bishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu was born on 8 December 1960 in Vadakku Vandanam, in the Diocese of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. He was ordained a priest on 26 April 1987, for the Diocese of Palayamkottai. On 20 November 2019, he was appointed Bishop of Palayamkottai and ordained bishop on 15 December. Since 2024, he has served as Apostolic Administrator of Madurai.

He studied at St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, Madurai, and later at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore, from 1979 to 1987. From 1992 to 2000 he was at Institut Catholique de Paris, for the Licence and Doctorate in Canon Law. He served the Diocese in the following assignments: Secretary to the Bishop of Palayamkottai (1987-1989); Professor at the Minor Seminary, Palayamkottai (1989-1992); then he studied in France (1992-2000); Vocation promoter, Palayamkottai (2000); Rector of Christ Hall Seminary, Karumathur (2000-2004); Defensor of the Bond, Palayamkottai Tribunal (2001-2003); Visiting professor, St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore (2001-2010); Judicial Vicar, Tribunal Palayamkottai (2003-2008); Vicar General of Palayamkottai (2004-2011); Parish Priest at Shantinagar (2004-2005); Parish Priest at Maharajanagar (2007-2009); Vocation promoter, Palayamkottai (2009-2011). He was the resident Professor at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore from 2011 to 2019. He was elected as the Chairman of the Commission for Canon Law and Legislative Texts in the 34 Plenary Assembly of the CCBI held in 2023 in Bangalore.

By Dr. Stephen Alathara