Mons. Antonysamy Savarimuthu is a Metropolitan Archbishop of The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Madurai since July 2025 and previously Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu, India from 2019 to 2025. He was born on 8 December 1960 in Vadaku Vandalam of the Diocese of Palayamkottai.

Formation and Education

He studied his initiation course in St Peter's Minor Seminary,

Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...

. He pursued his philosophical and theological formation in St Peter's Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore from 1979 to 1987. He was ordained a priest on 26 April 1987. He also holds a Licentiate and Doctorate in Canon Law from

Institut Catholique de Paris The Institut catholique de Paris (, abbr. ICP), known in English as the Catholic University of Paris (and in Latin as ''Universitas catholica Parisiensis''), is a private university located in Paris, France. History: 1875–present The Institut ...

from 1992 to 2000.

Ministry

After his

sacerdotal ordination Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform vari ...

, he served Bishop Iruthayaraj as his secretary from 1987 to 1989. He served as a formator and lecturer in St Peter's Seminary from 1997-2001. He was appointed Rector in Christ Hall Seminary, Madurai (2004–2011). He served the diocese in various capacities: Vicar General (2004–2009) Parish Priest of Infant Jesus Shrine, Shantinagar (2005–2009),

Rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

of St Mary's Minor Seminary and the Vocation Promoter of the Diocese, and Rector of the shrine of San Guida. From 2011, he was a professor of Canon Law in St Peter's Pontifical Institute, Bangalore and was the Dean of the Faculty of

Canon Law Canon law (from , , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical jurisdiction, ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its membe ...

till the announcement as Bishop-Elect of the Diocese of Palayamkottai.

Bishop Elect

Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...

appointed him the third Bishop of the Diocese of Palayamkottai on 20 November 2019 and his

episcopal consecration A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role ...

took place on 15 December 2019.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Savarimuthu, Antonysamy Living people 1960 births 20th-century Indian Roman Catholic priests Catholic University of Paris alumni 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in India