Indian appointed Relator in Vatican

Father Paul Pallath has been working in the Vatican since 1995.

Fr. Paul Pallath

Vatican City:  Pope Francis on Monday appointed Indian Father Paul Pallath as a Relator in the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, that handles sainthood causes of candidates.

The 54-year old priest from Palai, Kerala, has been working in the Vatican since 1995, reported Radio Vatican. Since 2011 he has been head of office at the Tribunal of the Roman Rota that deals with the cases of ratified and non-consummated marriage and the declaration of nullity of priestly Ordination.

Pallath holds a doctorate in Eastern Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, where he later taught, and in Western Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University.

He has worked at the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the Roman Rota, the ordinary court of appeal for marriage annulment cases referred to the Holy See.

At the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Pallath was earlier assistant to a postulator or promoter for the causes of St. Alphonsa and Blessed Augustine Thevaparampil, both from Kerala, India.

Later, as postulator he dealt with the cases of Blessed Thevarparampil, Bishop Thomas Kurialacherry, Father Mathew Kadalikkattil, Father John Ukken and Sister Varghese Payapilly.

In his new post as Relator, Pallath will work with the theological commission established by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in helping the postulator prepare the so-called ‘Positio’ that summarizes the life and virtues of the Servant of God being considered for sainthood.

Source: Vatican Radio