Kerala-born Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal has been appointed as the new Apostolic Nuncio, or ambassador, to Chile by Pope Francis. This significant appointment marks another milestone in Archbishop Vayalunkal’s illustrious career, which has seen him serve in various key roles globally.
Born in Vadavathoor, India, on 4 August, 1966, Archbishop Vayalunkal is 58 years old. His journey into the priesthood began when he was ordained on 26 December 1991, at the age of 25. He later joined the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on June 13, 1998, and has since served in numerous countries, including Guinea, Korea, the Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Hungary, and Egypt.
Archbishop Vayalunkal holds a Doctorate in Canon Law and has been appointed to several prestigious positions, including Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Algeria, and Tunisia. His linguistic skills are impressive, with fluency in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Spanish, English, Italian, French, and German.
This appointment is a testament to Archbishop Vayalunkal’s dedication and expertise in diplomatic services, and it underscores the significant contributions of Indian clergy to global Catholic leadership.