ASIA/INDIA - Auxiliary Bishops of Delhi appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on January 17, 2009, appointed Fr. Franco Mulakkal of the clergy of Jullundur, India, treasurer of the Apostolic Union of the Clergy and consultor of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, as Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Delhi, India and Titular Bishop of Cullu.
Fr. Franco Mulakkal (Aippunny) was born on March 25, 1964 in Mattam, in the State of Kerala, in the Siro-Malabar Diocese of Trichuri. After attending the St. Francis Boys' School in Mattam and St. Mary's Minor Seminary in Trichur, he went on to study at St. Charles Major Seminary in Nagpur, for studies in Philosophy and Theology. He was ordained a priest on April 21, 1990 for the Diocese of Jullundur. He has since ministered as follows: 1990-1991:Parish pastor in Dhariwal; 1991-1996: Parish pastor of St. Joseph's Parish, in Kahnuwan; 1996-1997: Professor at St. John Vianney Minor Seminary, Amristar; 1997-2001: Studies for the Licentiate in Moral Theology at the Alfonsianum (Rome), residing at the Pontifical College of Saint Paul; 2001-2008: Professor of Moral Theology at Holy Trinity Regional Seminary, Jullundur and Dean of the Theology Department; since 2008, he has served as International Treasurer of the Apostolic Union of the Clergy, Rome and Consultor for the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Since 2001, he has also served as Director and Founder of the Charismatic Apostolate in the Diocese of Jullundur; from 2002 to 2006 he served as Director of the Diocesan Parish Center; Since 2006, he has served as Editor of the Diocesan Magazine “Sada Zamana”; from 2003 to 2007 he was also National President of the Apostolic Union of Clergy, from 2004 to 2007, International Councilor of the Apostolic Union of the Clergy. He is now, among other diocesan positions, the head of Public Relations for the Circumscription of Jullundur. (S.L) (Agenzia Fides 20/1/2009)