Antonysamy appointed 6th archbishop of Madras & M'pore diocese

The Pope announced this in Vatican city today, he said.

Prior to taking up the new role, Antonysamy was the Pope's Ambassador to Gambia, Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Dr Kumar said.

Antonysamy was ordained as priest on November 19 1980 and obtained his Doctorate in Theology from Lateran University, Licentiate in Canon Law from Pontifical Urban University, Rome, Italy.

Pope John Paul II chose him to the diplomatic service of the Holy See (Vatican) in 1987 and was posted in Vatican embassies of several countries, he said.

In 2005, Antonysamy was elected as the Titular Archbishop of Sulci in Sardinia, Italy by Pope Benedict XVI, the Chancellor added.