Father Eugene Joseph - the new bishop named for Varanasi

The new bishop has been the administrator of the diocese since December 2013.

Bishop-elect Joseph of Varanasi

Varanasi:  A new bishop has been appointed for Varanasi diocese in Uttar Pradesh, which was without a bishop for two years.

Pope Francis appointed Father Eugene Joseph the bishop of Varanasi on Saturday. A pries of Varanasi, he was the diocesan administrator of Varanasi at the time of appointment as the bishop.

The diocese was vacant since 2013, when its then bishop Raphy Manjaly was transferred to Allahabad as its bishop.

Bishop-elect Joseph was born on October 18, 1958 in Madurai archdiocese and studied theology in St. Charles seminary in Nagpur as a seminarian of Varanasi diocese.

He was ordained a priest in April 10, 1985, following which he took up several vital ministries in the diocese including serving as parish priest, principal of colleges and rector of diocesan minor seminary.

He holds a graduation in education from Gorakhpur University, Masters in English from Mahatma Gandhi K.V. University in Varanasi and Masters in Business Administration from Townsend School of Business, New York.

Since December 2013, he was the administrator of the diocese.

Vatican Radio