Archbishop of Madurai
Archbishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu, Archbishop of Madurai, was born on December 8, 1960, in Vadakku Vandaman, Tamil Nadu, in the Diocese of Palayamkottai. He entered the minor seminary of Madurai and continued his philosophical and theological studies at Bangalore (1979-1987). He obtained bachelor's degrees in philosophy and theology, a master's degree in English literature, and a doctorate in canon law from the Institut Catholique in Paris. He was ordained a priest for Palayamkottai on April 26, 1987. He then served as secretary to the bishop (1987-1989); lecturer at the minor seminary of Madurai (1989-1992); a doctoral student in canon law in Paris (1992-2001); visiting professor at the seminary of Bangalore (2001-2010); rector of Christ Hall Seminary for philosophy at Madurai (2001-2004); vicar general (2004-2011); parish priest of the Infant Jesus Shrine at Shantinagar (2004-2005); rector of the shrine of St. Jude at Maharajanagar (2005-2009); and rector of St. Mary's Seminary and director of the vocations centre (2009-2011). From 2011 he was resident lecturer at St. Peter's Seminary in Bangalore. On November 20, 2019, he was appointed Bishop of Palayamkottai. He received episcopal ordination on December 15, 2019, with Antony Pappusamy as principal consecrator and Arochiasamy Jude Gerald Paulraj and Jebalamai Susaimanickam as co-consecrators. On November 4, 2024, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Madurai, and on July 5, 2025, Archbishop of Madurai. He was installed as Archbishop of Madurai on August 2, 2025.