Bishop Linus Pingal Ekka

Msgr. Linus Pingal Ekka was born on 23 September 1961 in Chainpur, in the diocese of Gumla. He obtained a Master of Arts from Saint Aloysius College in Jabalpur, and was awarded a licentiate in philosophy and theology from the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest on 22 January 1994 for the diocese of Gumla. After ordination, he first served as deputy parish priest and then parish priest of Dalmadi (1994-1995), and rector of the preparatory seminary of Karondabera (1995-1997 and 1999-2000). He was awarded a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Urbanian University, at the same time providing pastoral service in the archdiocese of Udine (1997-1999). He went on to hold the offices of visiting professor at Saint Albert’s Regional College in Ranchi (2000-2002); residential professor and prefect of the Department of Philosophy at Saint Albert’s Regional College in Ranchi (2002-2011); parish vicar in Ampezzo, in the archdiocese of Udine (2011-2017); chancellor of the diocese of Gumla and head of matrimonial cases (2017-2020); judicial vicar and judge of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal (2019-2020); and since 2021, diocesan administrator of Gumla. Episcopal appointment of secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Msgr. Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, as titular bishop of Bellicastrum, conferring him the personal title of Archbishop.