Church in India
Developments of the Holy See’s Representation in India
(1884 – 2013)
Apostolic Delegation

The Holy See’s Representation in India began with the establishment of Permanent Apostolic Delegation to the East Indies on 25 September 1884 when Pope Leo XIII appointed Archbishop Antonio Agliardi as Papal Representative.

The Apostolic Delegation is Pope’s permanent mission to the local Church, without having formal diplomatic status with the hosting government. The Apostolic Delegation

Apostolic Internunciature

On 12 June 1948 the Apostolic Delegation of the East Indies was raised to the rank of Apostolic Internunciature (interim nunciature) by Pope Pius XII. It was headed by Prelates appointed and sent by the Pope as diplomatic representatives of the Holy See. They belonged to the second class (after Nuncios) of Holy See diplomatic representatives, with the rank of an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary and they were officially known as Apostolic Internuncios (Vienna Convention on Diplomatic

Apostolic Nunciature

Eventually the Apostolic Internuciature of the East Indies became an Apostolic Nunciature on 22 August 1967 during the pontificate of Pope Paul VI. The Apostolic Nunciature is a diplomatic mission of the Holy See, equivalent to an embassy, headed by a Papal Nuncio (from Latin nuntius, meaning ‘messenger’), with ambassadorial rank, officially known as Apostolic Nuncio. He is a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See accredited to a State or International Organization with full diplomatic relations.

In 1967 and 1973 Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Burma (now Myamar) were respectively detached from the Apostolic Nunciature of East Indies, while Malaca, as part of modern Malaysia, was detached earlier in 1957. They became separate Apostolic Nunciatures.

130 years of the Nunciature
Diocese Summary
Summary Syro-Malabar Latin Syro-Malankara
Diocese : 143 Diocese : 27 Diocese : 108 Diocese : 8
Archdiocese : 31 Archdiocese : 5 Archdiocese : 23 Archdiocese : 3
Total : 174 Total : 32 Total : 131 Total : 11
Bishops' Summary
Summary Syro-Malabar Latin Syro-Malankara
Cardinals : 4 Cardinals : 1 Cardinals : 2 Cardinals : 1
Archbishops : 31 Archbishops : 5 Archbishops : 24 Archdiocese : 2
Bishops : 132 Bishops : 26 Bishops : 97 Bishops : 9
Aux.Bishop :16 Aux.Bishop :8 Aux.Bishop : 8 Aux.Bishop : 0
Co-Adjutors : 5 Co-Adjutors : 0 Co-Adjutors : 3 Co-Adjutors : 2
Curia Bishops : 2 Curia Bishops : 1 Curia Bishops : 0 Curia Bishops : 1
Apostolic Visitator : 1 Apostolic Visitator : 0 Apostolic Visitator : 0 Apostolic Visitator : 0
Apostolic Administrator : 11 Apostolic Administrator :1 Apostolic Administrator : 11 Apostolic Administrator : 0
Retired : 67 Retired : 8 Retired : 58 Retired : 1
Diocesan Administrator : 4 Diocesan Administrator : 0 Diocesan Administrator : 4 Diocesan Administrator : 0