Kochi, Jan 10 (PTI) Bishop Raphael Thattil of Shamshabad diocese has been elected as the head and Major Archbishop of the influential Syro-Malabar Church, church officials said here on Wednesday.

He succeeds Cardinal Mar George Alenchery, who recently resigned from the posts.

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The new Major Archbishop was elected during the Synod meeting of the Church held at St. Thomas Mount, Kakkanad, near here, Church officials said.

The name of the new Major Archbishop was submitted to the Vatican for approval.

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The official announcement was made after the Pope approved Thattil's election to the top post.

The announcement of Thattil's election was simultaneously made in the Vatican and at St. Thomas Mount in Kakkanad.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)