Pope Francis confirmed Mar Raphael Thattil (67), Bishop of Shamashabad, as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church in the Synod of Bishops, as requested by Canon 153 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, during a meeting at Mount Saint Thomas, Kakkanad, Kochi, Kerala, India.
He was born to Ouseph and Thresia on April 21, 1956, and was baptized on April 30, 1956, in Thrissur. Lazar (late), Thomas, Baby (late), Francis, Sosannam, Joy, and John are his brothers and sisters.
After his primary education at St. Thomas College HS, Thrissur, he joined St. Mary's Minor Seminary, Thope, on July 4, 1971. He completed his study of philosophy and theology at St. Thomas Ap. Seminary Kottayam in 1980.
On December 21, 1980, Mar Joseph Kundukulam ordained him in the Thrissur Doloures Basilica. He did his higher studies in Rome and took a doctorate in Oriental Canon Law. His thesis was on "Clerical Formation in the Syro Malabar Church: A Historico-Juridical Study."
After his ordination, he served as Asst. Vicar, Aranattukara (1981–82), Fr. Prefect and Assistant Procurator, St. Mary's Minor Seminary (1982–83), Acting Vicar, Koonammoochy (1983), and Acting Vicar, Cherumkuzhy (1983).
On returning from Rome, he served in the Archbishop's House as Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, Adj. Judicial Vicar, Judge, and later as Syncellus and Proto-Syncellus.
He was the director of DBCLC and Catechism (1992–1995). On January 20, 1998, he became the project officer of the new Marymatha Major Seminary and, after a few months, the first Rector of the Marymatha Seminary (1998–2006). He also worked as president and member of many committees and commissions.
On April 10, 2010, he became an ordained bishop and was appointed as the auxiliary bishop of Trichur and the titular bishop of Bruni.
They appointed him as Apostolic Visitor for the Syro-Malabar faithful residing outside the territorium proprium in 2014.
Pope Francis appointed him as the first Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Shamshabad on October 10, 2017, and he officially assumed the position on January 7, 2018.
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