Two Indian Archbishops Receive the Pallium from Pope Leo XIV

Vatican City, June 29, 2026: On the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Leo XIV conferred the Pallium upon Archbishop Elias Frank of Calcutta and Archbishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu of Madurai during the solemn Eucharistic celebration at St. Peter's Basilica on June 29, marking their formal reception of the ancient symbol of metropolitan authority and communion with the Holy See.

The annual conferral of the Pallium is one of the most significant moments of the liturgical celebration honouring the Church's two great apostles. Bestowed upon newly appointed metropolitan archbishops, the Pallium signifies their pastoral responsibility within their ecclesiastical provinces and their close communion with the Bishop of Rome.

Made of white wool and adorned with six black crosses, the Pallium is worn over the shoulders during the celebration of the Eucharist within a metropolitan archbishop's province. It symbolises the shepherd's pastoral office, his care for the flock entrusted to him, and his unity with the Pope and the universal Church.

Archbishop Elias Frank received the Pallium less than a year after assuming office as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Calcutta in September 2025. A native of Karnataka, he previously served as Bishop of Asansol. Ordained to the priesthood in 1993, he holds a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome and has served the Church in various pastoral and administrative capacities.

Archbishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu, who became the Metropolitan Archbishop of Madurai in July 2025 after serving as Bishop of Palayamkottai, also received the Pallium during the ceremony. Ordained a priest in 1987, he earned a doctorate in Canon Law from the Institut Catholique de Paris and previously served as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Madurai before his appointment as metropolitan archbishop.

The conferral of the Pallium is a visible expression of the bond of communion between metropolitan archbishops and the Successor of St. Peter, reaffirming their shared mission of shepherding the faithful in fidelity to the Gospel and the teachings of the Church.

For the Catholic Church in India, the occasion marked a moment of joy and thanksgiving as two of its metropolitan archbishops publicly affirmed their pastoral ministry in communion with Pope Leo XIV. The faithful of the Archdioceses of Calcutta and Madurai joined Catholics around the world in prayer, seeking God's blessings upon their shepherds as they continue to lead their local Churches with faith, wisdom, and pastoral charity.

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By Catholic Connect Reporter