Pope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; Italian: Francesco; Spanish: Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936) is the 266th and current Pope of the Catholic Church, a title he holds ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and sovereign of Vatican City. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory III, who reigned in the 8th century.
Cardinal Mar George Alencherry Metropolitan and Gate of all India is the current Catholic Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He was elected by the Holy Synod of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church on 26 May 2011 to succeed Mar Varkey Vithayathil. He was appointed as a Cardinal of the Catholic Church and the titular Archpriest of San Bernardo alle Terme, Rome on 18 February 2012 in Rome.
Mar Jacob Angadiath, Bishop of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, was born on October 26, 1945 at Periappuram in Elanji Panchayat of Ernakulam District, in the State of Kerala, India. His parents were Ulahannan and Mariam Angadiath. His home parish is St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Periappuram, in the diocese of Palai. He has two brothers, one sister. His father died in 1948 and thereafter his mother and immediate family raised him.
Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Rev. Fr. Joy Alappatt, Pastor of Mar Thoma Sleeha SyroMalabar Cathedral, Chicago as the Auxiliary Bishop of St. Thomas SyroMalabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago on July 24, 2014. Mar Joy Alappatt was born at Parappukara, in Thrissur district, Kerala, India, on September 27, 1956 as the second son of late Mr. Varghese and late Mrs. Rosy Alappatt. His baptismal name is John and he is named after the patron saint of his parish, St. John Nepomucene. He is commonly known as Fr Joy Alappatt.
