Metropolitan Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, India

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Pondicherry and Cuddalore (English) / Pondicherien(sis) et Cuddaloren(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Dharmapuri, Kumbakonam, Salem, Tanjore

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Our Lady of Immaculate Conception

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1700: Established as Mission sui juris of Coromandel Coast / Carnatic mission / Malabar mission / Pondicherry / Pondicherien(sis) (Latin) (from Mission sui juris of Madura)
1773: Gained territory from the suppressed Mission sui juris of Madura
1776: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of French Colonies in India
1832.07.03: Lost territory to Apostolic Vicariate of Madras
1836.07.08: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Madura
1836.09.01: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Pondicherry / Pondicherien(sis) (Latin)
1845.03.16: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Pro-Vicariate of Mysore and Apostolic Pro-Vicariate of Vizagapatam
1845.04.03: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Pro-Vicariate of Coimbatore
1850.04.03: Lost territory to Apostolic Vicariate of Coimbatore
1886.09.01: Promoted as Archdiocese of Pondicherry / Pondicherien(sis) (Latin) (gained territory from the suppressed Apostolic Prefecture of French Colonies in India)
1887.06.07: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Pondicherry / Pondicherien(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Coimbatore, Mangalore, Mysore and Trichinopoly)
1888.08.19: Gained suffragan see Malacca
1893.10.02: Lost suffragan sees Mangalore and Trichinopoly
1899.09.01: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Kumbakonam and gained suffragan see Kumbakonam
1930.05.26: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Salem and gained suffragan see Salem
1940.02.13: Gained suffragan see Bangalore
1951.02.08: Lost territory to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Calcutta and Diocese of Calicut
1953.08.07: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (English) / Pondicherien(sis) et Cuddaloren(sis) (Latin)
1953.09.19: Lost suffragan sees Bangalore, Malacca and Mysore and gained suffragan see Tanjore
1953.12.11: Lost suffragan see Coimbatore
1969.09.01: Lost territory to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore and Diocese of Vellore
1997.01.24: Gained suffragan see Dharmapuri

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2022.03.19 – ...):

Archbishop Francis Kalist (66)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Francis Kalist (66)
(2022.03.19 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (India)

For life and service

Born:	1957.11.23 (Ritapuram, India)
Ordained Priest:	1982.12.30
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.02.08

Priest of Meerut (India) (1982.12.30 – 2008.12.03)

Bishop of Meerut (India) (2008.12.03 – 2022.03.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (India) (2022.03.19 – ...)

Bishop Peter Abir Antonisamy (72)
(Apostolic Administrator 2021.01.27 – 2022.03.19)

Archbishop Antony Anandarayar
(2004.06.10 – 2021.01.27)

Servire in Fide et in Amore

Born:	1945.07.17 (Varadarajanpet, India)
Ordained Priest:	1971.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.01.29
Died:	2021.05.04 (Chennai, India † 75)

Bishop of Ootacamund (India) (1997.01.02 – 2004.06.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (India) (2004.06.10 – 2021.01.27)

Died of COVID-19.

Archbishop Savarinathan Michael Augustine
(1992.02.18 – 2004.06.10)

Life of a shepherd

Born:	1933.06.12 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1961.04.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.03.29
Died:	2017.11.04 († 84)

Titular Bishop of Bararus (1978.01.30 – 1981.06.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of Madras and Mylapore (India) (1978.01.30 – 1981.06.19)

Bishop of Vellore (India) (1981.06.19 – 1992.02.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (India) (1992.02.18 – 2004.06.10)

Archbishop Venmani S. Selvanather
(1973.03.17 – 1992.02.18)

Born:	1913.07.06 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1941.10.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1949.05.01
Died:	1993.10.14 († 80)

Bishop of Salem (India) (1949.03.03 – 1973.03.17)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (India) (1973.03.17 – 1992.02.18)

Archbishop Ambrose Rayappan
(1955.11.28 – 1973.03.17)

Fides vincit mundum

Born:	1901.02.25 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1923.12.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1953.03.25
Died:	1999.11.24 († 98)

Titular Bishop of Sidon (1953.01.08 – 1953.08.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Pondicherry (India) (1953.01.08 – 1953.08.07)

Titular Archbishop of Selymbria (1953.08.07 – 1955.11.28)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (India) (1953.08.07 – 1955.11.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (India) (1955.11.28 – 1973.03.17)

Archbishop Auguste-Siméon Colas, M.E.P.
(1930.06.24 – 1955.10.28)

Born:	1876.12.29 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1900.06.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1930.09.29
Died:	1968.10.24 († 91)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (India) (1930.06.24 – 1955.10.28)

Titular Archbishop of Arcadiopolis in Europa (1955.10.28 – 1968.10.24)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Pondicherry (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Elie-Jean-Joseph Morel, M.E.P.
(1909.05.11 – 1929.08.16)

Born:	1862.12.27 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1887.09.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1909.09.21
Died:	1948.06.15 († 85)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry (India) (1909.05.11 – 1929.08.16)

Titular Archbishop of Cotrada (1929.08.16 – 1948.06.15)

Archbishop Joseph-Adolphe Gandy, M.E.P.
(1892.09.29 – 1909.03.25)

Born:	1839.02.25 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1862.07.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1883.09.09
Died:	1909.03.25 († 70)

Titular Bishop of Tricale (1883.03.16 – 1889.01.15)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Pondicherry (India) (1883.03.16 – 1892.09.29)

Titular Archbishop of Claudiopolis (1889.01.15 – 1892.09.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry (India) (1892.09.29 – 1909.03.25)

Archbishop François-Jean Laouënan, M.E.P.
(1886.09.01 – 1892.09.29)

Born:	1822.11.19 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1846.06.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1868.10.11
Died:	1892.09.29 († 69)

Titular Bishop of Flaviopolis antea Cratea (1868.07.24 – 1886.09.01)

Vicar Apostolic of Pondicherry (India) (1868.07.24 – 1886.09.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry (India) (1886.09.01 – 1892.09.29)

Vicars Apostolic of Pondicherry (Roman Rite)

Bishop François-Jean Laouënan, M.E.P. (later Archbishop)
(1868.07.24 – 1886.09.01)

(see above)

Bishop Joseph-Isidore Godelle, M.E.P.
(1861.03.21 – 1867.07.15)

Born:	1806.03.07 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1833.06.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1857.08.16
Died:	1867.07.15 († 61)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Pondicherry (India) (1857.04.03 – 1861.03.21)

Titular Bishop of Thermopylæ (1857.04.03 – 1867.07.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Pondicherry (India) (1861.03.21 – 1867.07.15)

Bishop Clément Bonnand, M.E.P.
(1836.10.03 – 1861.03.21)

Born:	1796.05.20 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1821.06.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1833.11.10
Died:	1861.03.21 († 64)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Pondicherry (India) (1831.08.19 – 1836.10.03)

Titular Bishop of Druzipara (1831.08.19 – 1861.03.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Madura and Coromandel Coast (India) (1836.10.03 – 1850.04.03)

Vicar Apostolic of Pondicherry (India) (1836.10.03 – 1861.03.21)

Ecclesiastical Superiors of Coromandel Coast (Roman Rite)

Bishop Louis-Charles-Auguste Hébert, M.E.P.
(1811.10.03 – 1836.07.08)

Born:	1763.12.31 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1811.03.03
Died:	1836.10.03 († 72)

Coadjutor Superior of Coromandel Coast (India) (1806.07.06 – 1811.10.03)

Titular Bishop of Halicarnassus (1806.07.06 – 1836.10.03)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Coromandel Coast (India) (1811.10.03 – 1836.07.08)

Prefect Apostolic of Madura (India) (1836.07.08 – 1836.10.03)

Bishop Nicolas Champenois, M.E.P.
(1791.11.08 – 1811.10.30)

Born:	1734.04 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1774.01.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1786.11.05
Died:	1811.10.30 († 77)

Coadjutor Superior of Coromandel Coast (India) (1785.06.14 – 1791.11.08)

Titular Bishop of Doliche (1785.06.14 – 1811.10.30)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Coromandel Coast (India) (1791.11.08 – 1811.10.30)

Bishop Pierre Brigot, M.E.P.
(1776.09.30 – 1791.11.08)

Born:	1713.09.01 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1757.08.24
Died:	1791.11.08 († 78)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1755.01.22 – 1755.12.08)

Titular Bishop of Tabraca (1755.01.22 – 1791.11.08)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1755.12.08 – 1776.09.30)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Coromandel Coast (India) (1776.09.30 – 1791.11.08)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Ambrose Rayappan (1953.08.07 – 1955.11.28)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Joseph-Adolphe Gandy, M.E.P. (1883.03.16 – 1892.09.29)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Joseph-Isidore Godelle, M.E.P. (1857.04.03 – 1861.03.21)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Clément Bonnand, M.E.P. (1831.08.19 – 1836.10.03)
Coadjutor Superior: Bishop Louis-Charles-Auguste Hébert, M.E.P. (1806.07.06 – 1811.10.03)
Coadjutor Superior: Bishop Nicolas Champenois, M.E.P. (1785.06.14 – 1791.11.08)
Coadjutor Superior: Fr. Petrus Magnye, M.E.P. (1784.09.28 – 1822.05.01)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Ambrose Rayappan (later Archbishop) (1953.01.08 – 1953.08.07)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joseph Mark Gopu (later Archbishop) (1948.07.08 – 1953.01.08)