George Panikulam

{{Infobox Christian leader

| honorific-prefix = His Grace, The Most Reverend

| name = George Panikulam

| honorific-suffix =

| title = Apostolic Nuncio emeritus to Uruguay
Titular Archbishop of Caudium

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| appointed = 14 June 2014

| retired = 26 October 2017

| predecessor = Anselmo Guido Pecorari

| successor = Martin Krebs

| previous_post = {{bulleted list | Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Apostolic Delegate to Somalia and special representative to the African Union (2008–2014) | Apostolic Nuncio to Mozambique (2003–2008) | Apostolic Nuncio to Honduras (1999–2003) }}

| other_post = Titular Archbishop of Caudium

| ordination = 11 March 1967

| ordained_by = George Alapatt

| consecration = 6 January 2000

| consecrated_by = Pope John Paul II, Giovanni Battista Re and Marcello Zago

| birth_name = George Panikulam

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1942|10|26}}

| birth_place = Kerala, India

| death_date =

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| nationality = Indian

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{{Infobox bishopstyles

|name=George Panikulam

|dipstyle=

|offstyle=Your Grace

|relstyle=Archbishop

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|image = Template-Archbishop.svg

|image_size = 200px

}}

George Panikulam (born 26 October 1942) is a bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church who spent his career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He was given the title of nuncio in 1999 and consecrated a bishop in 2000. He retired in 2017.

Biography

He was born in Puthenchira, Kerala, India, on 26 October 1942. He studied at the minor seminary in Thope, Thrissur, and St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary in Aluva. He was ordained a priest on 11 March 1967 by Archbishop George Alapatt. He continued his studies in Rome, earning a doctorate in sacred scripture and a licentiate in canon law and theology.{{Cite web|url=http://www.irinjalakudadiocese.com/prelates.php|title=Diocese of Irinjalakuda|work=Diocese of Irinjalakuda|access-date=25 August 2017|archive-date=30 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330162301/http://www.irinjalakudadiocese.com/Prelates.php|url-status=dead}}

Diplomatic career

He studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy to prepare for a diplomat's career beginning in 1975.{{cite web|publisher=Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy|language =it|access-date = 27 August 2019 | title = Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999 |url = https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdeccles/documents/1950-1999.htm }}

He was appointed Titular Archbishop of Caudium and Apostolic Nuncio to Honduras on 4 December 1999. He was consecrated a bishop on 6 January 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

He was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Mozambique on 3 July 2003.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | accessdate = 27 August 2019 | date= 3 July 2003| title = Rinunce e Nomine, 03.07.2003| url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2003/07/03/0346/01091.html | language= it }}

On 24 October 2008, he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia and Apostolic Delegate to Somalia.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | accessdate = 27 August 2019 | date= 24 October 2008| title = Rinunce e Nomine, 24.10.2008| url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/10/24/0669/01653.html | language= it }} He was given additional responsibilities as Apostolic Nuncio to Djibouti on 18 December 2008.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | accessdate = 27 August 2019 | date= 18 December 2008| title = Rinunce e Nomine, 18.12.2008| url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/12/18/0794/01969.html | language= it }}

He was named Apostolic Nuncio to Uruguay on 14 June 2014.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | accessdate = 27 August 2019 | date= 14 June 2014| title = Rinunce e Nomine, 14.06.2014| url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/06/16/180616c.html | language= it }}

He retired in October 2017 at the age of 75.