Episcopal Ministry in a Synodal Church

The Synod on Synodality (2021–2024) marks a significant development in the ecclesial life of the Catholic Church. It calls the entire People of God to rediscover the Church as fundamentally synodal: a community that listens, journeys together, and discerns the movement of the Holy Spirit. Within this synodal horizon, episcopal ministry is reconfigured not in essence, but in style and emphasis. The bishop, as the successor of the apostles and head of a local Church, is called to lead in communion, foster participation, and promote mission.

Speaker

His Exc. Most Rev. Dr. Antonysamy Savarimuthu was born in Vandanam, Tamil Nadu, India, on 8 December 1960 and was ordained to the presbyterate on 26 April 1987 for the Diocese of Palayamkottai.

He holds a B.A. (History, Sociology, Philosophy), University of Bangalore, India, 1982 and a M.A. (English Literature), University of Madurai Kamaraj, India, 1992. He did his Licentiate in Canon Law, at L’Institut Catholique de Paris, 1996 and concluded a Doctorate in Canon Law, at L’Institut Catholique de Paris and University of Paris XI, Paris, France, 2000.

He has served as professor at St Peter’s (regional) minor seminary, Madurai (1989-1992); Rector at Christ Hall (regional philosophate) seminary, Karumathur, Madurai (2000-2004); Judicial Vicar (2002-2007), Vicar General (2004-2011) and a Pastor in the diocese of Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu, India. He was also a Professor at the Centre of Canon Law Studies in St Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore, India (2011-2019); Director of the Centre (2016-2019); Editor of Studies in Church Law (2014-2019); Vice President of the Canon Law Society of India since 2017.

He was appointed the Bishop of Palayamkottai by Pope Francis on 20 November 2019 and consecrated Bishop of Palayamkottai on 15 December 2019. He is the Chairman, Tamil Nadu Latin Bishops’ Council (TNLBC) Family Commission since January 2020, Treasurer, Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council (TNBC) and TNLBC since July 2021, Chairman, Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Commission for Canon Law and Legislative Texts since January 2023. Since 4 November 2024, he also serves as the Apostolic Administrator of the archdiocese of Madurai.