Pope Leo XIV has taken major steps to heal a longstanding rift within the Syro-Malabar Church, ending decades of internal conflict and ushering in a new phase of leadership and reorganization.

According to CNA, the pope's decisions included the acceptance of multiple episcopal resignations, the appointment of new bishops, and the strategic reorganization of the Church's structure to support both unity and autonomy across communities.

The Syro-Malabar Church, belonging to the East Syriac or Chaldean liturgical tradition, is the second-largest Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with Rome after the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. It traces its origins to the apostolic activities of St. Thomas the Apostle in India. Over the last two decades, however, the Church has struggled with internal disputes centered around liturgical reforms that first emerged in 1999 and were officially affirmed by the Church’s synod in 2021.

Papal Delegate Role Ends as Church Progresses

In a move signaling progress, Pope Leo XIV officially ended the mandate of Archbishop Cyril Vasil, who had served as a papal delegate to the Syro-Malabar Church since 2023. His role was initially created to manage tensions resulting from the liturgical controversy. According to the Vatican, the conclusion of his role followed a new internal agreement within the Church that rendered his intervention unnecessary.

Building on that momentum, the Holy See announced on August 28, 2025, a series of significant personnel changes. These included the resignation of several bishops and the appointment of new leaders, each chosen to invigorate ecclesial life and governance across key regions. The appointments mark a renewed commitment to pastoral care and administrative clarity.

Among those stepping down was Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy, who resigned from his post as bishop of Belthangady. In his place, Claretian Father James Patteril was selected as the new eparch. Before his election, he received approval from Pope Leo XIV—a necessary formality for leadership appointments in Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome.

New Bishops Installed to Lead Amid Change

Born in Mangalore in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, Patteril joined the Claretian order in 1988 and was ordained in 1990. He has ministered in both India and Germany and completed his theology studies in Germany with a focus on pastoral care. His international background is seen as an asset as the Church navigates cultural and liturgical diversity within its global diaspora.

Another appointment made on the same day involved the Eparchy of Adilabad, where Carmelite Father Joseph Thachaparambath was elected bishop. Father Thachaparambath has been a Carmelite of Mary Immaculate since 1985 and entered the priesthood in 1997. Before his appointment, he was the provincial superior of the Carmelite Mar Thoma Province beginning in 2023.

Also among those whose resignations were accepted was Bishop Thomas Elavanal of the Eparchy of Kalyan. The resignation came with the consent of the synod, under the leadership of Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, as part of a comprehensive realignment of the Church’s administrative map.

Ecclesiastical Provinces Reshaped for Cohesion

As part of the reorganization, several new ecclesiastical provinces were created to better represent regional priorities and respond to the pastoral needs of Syro-Malabar faithful spread across India. These structural adjustments aim to enhance local governance while maintaining hierarchical integrity across the broader Church body.

The Archdiocese of Faridabad was formed, encompassing the Eparchies of Bijnor and Gorakhpur. Bishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, who had already been serving in Faridabad, was elevated to archbishop in light of the jurisdictional upgrade. This province now serves growing Syro-Malabar populations in northern India.

Kalyan was made an archiepiscopal see with Chanda and Rajkot as its suffragans. With this transition, Bishop Sebastian Vaniyapurackal became the first archbishop of the new province, signaling a renewed emphasis on local pastoral leadership in western parts of India.

Fresh Pastoral Missions for Diverse Communities

The restructuring continued in central India, where the Diocese of Shamshabad was raised to archeparchial status. It now oversees the Eparchy of Adilabad. Bishop Prince Antony Panengaden was appointed as the archbishop-designate, affirming his role in guiding the province through further consolidation and growth.

In a complementary move, Ujjain was named the metropolitan hub for the Eparchies of Jagdalpur, Sagar, and Satna. Bishop Sebastian Vadakel was appointed to lead the newly designated metropolitan province, positioning him to drive regional coordination in central India.

Meanwhile, the Eparchy of Hosur remained a suffragan but was reassigned under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Trichur, a realignment that locates administrative authority closer to its cultural and geographic heartland in southern India.

Restoration of Unity After Years of Discord

The sweeping changes represent one of the most significant organizational overhauls within the Syro-Malabar Church in recent memory. Moving away from decades of disagreement, the emphasis now shifts toward pastoral unity and operational stability. Vatican observers suggest this may serve as a model for resolving intra-Church disputes in other Eastern Catholic traditions.

Throughout the process, Pope Leo XIV has communicated a vision grounded in dialogue, subsidiarity, and mutual respect. The transition demonstrates the Vatican’s collaborative approach in addressing long-standing internal issues in Eastern Catholic communities while respecting their unique rites and customs.

By solidifying leadership and updating the Church's structure, the papacy has underscored its commitment to both theological integrity and local empowerment—key elements in preserving the richness and unity of the Syro-Malabar tradition in the modern era.