Indian Canonist Dr. Merlin Rengith Ambrose appointed to prestigious Vatican-affiliated committee

An Indian priest has been nominated by the Pontifical Urban University, Rome, to serve on the International Scientific Committee and Editorial Board of Ius Missionale, a renowned Italian canonical journal.

In this esteemed role, Father Merlin Rengith Ambrose will represent Asia while continuing his responsibilities as a faculty member of Canon Law at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore, and as the executive secretary of the Commission for Canon Law within the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI). 

This appointment aligns with his docens stabilis (Missio Canonica), granted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, Vatican, in 2023.

A distinguished scholar, Father Ambrose has authored numerous books and peer-reviewed articles in both Indian and international academic journals. 

He also serves as an executive committee member of the Canon Law Society of India (CLSI). 

Recognized for his deep commitment to the Church, academic excellence, and pastoral dedication, his contributions—shaped by his experience within the Indian ecclesiastical context—are expected to significantly enhance Ius Missionale and the broader field of canonical studies within the Indian Church and the universal Church.

Father Ambrose holds an extensive academic background, including: 

- Doctorate in Canon Law and Postgraduate Diploma in Superior Course on Praxis and Ecclesiastical Jurisprudence, Pontifical Urban University, Rome.

- Diploma in Canonization Process of Saints (Postulator Course), Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, with canonical faculty to act as a postulator for the Roman phase. 

- Diploma in Latin, Pontificium Institutum Altioris Latinitatis, Rome.

- Diploma in Praxis and Canonical Administrative Procedure, Dicastery for the Clergy, Vatican. 

- Certificate in Ongoing Formation of Priests, Dicastery for the Clergy, Vatican. 

- PG Diploma in Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Persons, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. 

- Diploma in Integral Ecology, Alliance of Pontifical Universities and Athenaeum, Rome.

His appointment marks a significant milestone in the representation of Indian scholars in the global sphere of canon law and ecclesiastical jurisprudence.

Father Ambrose is the executive secretary of the Commission for Canon Law in the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.