Born on 21st April 1956 at Thrissur, Mar Raphael Thattil was the youngest of the ten children of Ouseph and Thresia Thattil. He had his school education at St. Thomas College High School, Thrissur, and joined St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Thope, Thrissur, on 4th July 1971. He studied Philosophy and Theology at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam, and was ordained priest on 21st December 1980 by Mar Joseph Kundukulam at the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours, Thrissur. He took his doctorate in Oriental Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome. His thesis was titled “Clerical Formation in the Syro-Malabar Church: A Historico-Juridical Study”.
He began his priestly ministry as assistant vicar at Aranattukara and as prefect and assistant procurator of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary. After returning from Rome he served the Archdiocese of Thrissur in many roles:
In 1998 he was entrusted with building the new Mary Matha Major Seminary, Thrissur, and he served as its first Rector until 2006. He also served as:
On 10th April 2010 he was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Thrissur by Mar Andrews Thazhath. Pope Francis later appointed him Apostolic Visitator for the Syro-Malabar faithful living outside the Church’s proper territory in India. On 10th October 2017 he was named the first Bishop of the newly erected Eparchy of Shamshabad, and he was installed on 7th January 2018.
In January 2024 the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church elected Mar Raphael Thattil as Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, succeeding Mar George Cardinal Alencherry. The election was announced on 10th January 2024 with the assent of Pope Francis. He was enthroned on 11th January 2024 at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad, and he continues to lead the Church as its Father and Head.
