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Pope Francis 1936-2025

Commemorating Our Founding Father Pope Francis.

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death in 2025. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936 in Flores, a neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. He was the eldest of the five children of Mario José Bergoglio and Regina María Sívori. Mario Bergoglio was an Italian immigrant and an accountant. Regina Sivori was a housewife born in Buenos Aires to a family of northern Italian origin. Mario Bergoglio's family left Italy in 1929 to escape the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini

Bergoglio was inspired to join the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a severe illness. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969, and from 1973 to 1979 he was the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a Cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the 2013 papal conclave elected Bergoglio as pope on 13 March. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Pope Leo Xiv

Cardinal Robert Prevost – US born

Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. He is the first pope to have been born in the United States, the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenships, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second (after his immediate predecessor Pope Francis) from the Americas.

Prevost was born in Chicago and raised in the nearby suburb of Dolton, Illinois. He became a friar in the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained as a priest in 1982. He earned a Doctor of Canon Law (JCD) degree in 1987 from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. His service includes extensive missionary work in Peru in the 1980s and 1990s—he worked there as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator. Elected prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine, he was based in Rome from 2001 to 2013, and travelled extensively as part of this work, including to the order's many provinces and missions around the world. He then returned to Peru as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome, and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Prevost was elected pope on May 8, 2025, the second day of the conclave, on the fourth ballot. White smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel at 18:07 CEST (UTC+2), signifying to the public that a pope had been chosen. After accepting his election and adopting his papal name, Leo embraced his fellow cardinals upon exiting the Sistine Chapel. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the cardinal protodeacon, made the traditional Latin proclamation, Habemus papam, announcing Pope Leo XIV to the public for the first time from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica. According to Italian law enforcement, by the time of the habemus papam announcement, there were up to 150,000 in the square.

Most Rev.V. Jeromedhas Varuvel, SDB

Former and First Bishop of Kuzhithurai Diocese

Bishop Jerome Dhas Varuvel, SDB, was born 21 October 1951 in Paduvoor in the diocese of Kottar. He attended Carmel Secondary School in Nagercoil. From 1967 to 1968 he followed the pre-university course at the Scott Christian College, Nagercoil. From 1968 to 1970 he attended the minor seminary at St. Aloysius Seminary in Nagercoil. He studied philosophy at Sacred Heart Seminary in Poonamallee (1970-1973). He also obtained a bachelor's degree in Economics from Arulanandar College, Karumathur, Madurai (1973-1976).

In 1976 he decided to join the Salesians of Don Bosco. After completing the pre-novitiate (1976-1977) and novitiate (1977-1978), he made his religious profession temporary 24 May 1978. On 24 May 1981, he made his perpetual vows. From 1981 to 1986 he studied theology at the Salesians in Rome. He has a bachelor's degree in Economics and in Theology and a Licentiate in Pedagogy at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.

He was ordained priest by John Paul II on 2 June 1985. It belongs to the Salesian Province of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

On 22 December 2014, Pope Francis appointed him the first bishop of the newly-erected diocese of Kuzhithurai, which was bifurcated from the diocese of Kottar. He was consecrated as bishop of the diocese of Kuzhithurai on 24 February 2015 at a ceremony presided by Peter Remigius, bishop of the diocese of Kottar.

Due to ill health, Bishop Jerome Dhas Varuvel submitted his resignation to Pope Francis who accepted it on June 6, 2020 and appointed Archbishop Antony Pappusamy of Madurai as Apostolic Administrator of Kuzhithurai with immediate effect.

Most Rev. Dr. Albert George Alexander Anastas

Present Bishop of Kuzhithurai Diocese, Unnamalaikadai

Bishop's House, P.O. Box 1,
Unnamalaikadai-629179 Kanniyakurnari Dt.,
Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: (04651)272.077
Website: www.kuzhithuraidiocese.in
Email: rcdiocesekuzhithurai@gmail.com

Pope Francis appointed Father Albert George Alexander Anastas as bishop of Kuzhithurai on Jan.13, 2024.

Bishop Anastas was born on Dec. 16, 1966, in Manavilai in Kottar diocese. He studied philosophy at Christ Hall Seminary in Madurai and theology at St. Paul’s Seminary in Tiruchirapalli.

He was ordained a priest on April 26, 1992 for the Diocese of Kottar.

He has held following positions: assistant parish priest in Mulagumoodu (1992-1993); parish administrator of K.P. Thurai (1993-1994); prefect of studies at St. Aloysius Minor Seminary, Nagercoil (1994-1995); Animator of Christ Hall Seminary, (1995-1998); parish priest of St. Michael Shrine, Rajavoor (1998-2000); parish assistant, Kurusady (2007-2008); secretary of the Christian Life Commission (2007-2012); parish priest of Punnainagar (2008-2014); director of the rural motivation program (2013-2016); vicar forane (2014-2016); member of the College of Consultors (2014-2016); and since 2016 professor at St. Paul’s Seminary.

Our Diocese