Joseph Powathil


Joseph Powathil
Metropolitan Archbishop of Archeparchy of Changanacherry
(1985-2007)
DioceseArcheparchy of Changanacherry
PredecessorAntony Padiyara
SuccessorJoseph Perumthottam
Other post(s)former chairman, Inter-church Council of Kerala
Orders
Ordination3 October 1962
Consecration13 February 1972
Personal details
Born(1930-08-14)14 August 1930
Kurumpanadom, Travancore, British Raj
Died18 March 2023(2023-03-18) (aged 92)
Changanassery, Kerala, India
ResidenceArchbishop's House, Changanacherry
ParentsUlahannan Joseph, Mariamma
Alma materSt. Berchman's High School
St. Berchmans College
Loyola College, Chennai
Papal Seminary, Pune
University of Oxford(1 year Economics course[1]
Motto"Truth and Charity”

Joseph Powathil (14 August 1930 – 18 March 2023)[2] was an Indian prelate of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He was the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Changanassery, serving from 1985 until 2007.[3] He was also the first bishop of Kanjirappally, having served from 1977 to 1985. He served as the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) from 1994 to 1998. Powathil was one of the youngest bishops in India, having been ordained bishop at the age of 41 and Pope Paul VI was his principal consecrator.[4] A scholar in theology, Powathil is known for his stance in matters related to the Syro-Malabar Church's liturgy and restoration of eastern traditions. His stance on the fee structure of self-financing colleges had once become a challenge for the Kerala state government.[5]

  1. ^ Web desk (25 August 2020). "The Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus Mar Joseph Powathil". Madhyamam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  2. ^ Former Archbishop of Changanacherry Diocese Mar Joseph Powathil passes away at 92
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Archbishop Joseph Powathil". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil Passes Away". ccbi.in/archbishop-mar-joseph-powathil-passes-away/. Retrieved 22 March 2023.