Kochi: Archbishop-designate Joseph Kalathiparambil, 64, who returned from the Vatican after a five-year stint as Secretary at the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People on Thursday, revealed that Pope Francis may visit India next year. Dr Kalathiparambil said that the Pope conveyed his desire to visit India when he called on him at his residence. “What I understood is that the Pope wishes to visit India next year. An indication in this regard was given to me when I met him at his residence at Santa Marta in Vatican,” he said.
Dr Kalathiparambil is set to take over as the Archbishop of Latin Archdiocese of Verapoly in Kerala on December 18. A team led by Dr Francis Kallarackal accorded a warm welcome to Dr Kalathiparambil when he reached the Cochin International Airport at 8.30 am. Dr Kalathiparambil added that he requested the Pope to visit Kerala and Verapoly Archdi-ocese, and got a positive reply. Pope John Paul II is the only Pope to have visited Kerala, where the Catholic community has a strong presence. He visited India for 10 days in 1986, and in November 1999.
Dr Kalathiparambil interacted with the media at the airport. He got his previous assignment from Pope Benedict XVI in February 2011. Prior to appointment as the archbishop, Kalathiparambil was serving as the Secretary of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People after being called for the assignment by Pope Benedict XVI in February 2011. The 64-year-old bishop replaces Archbishop Francis Kallarakal, who has retired.
