Solemn installation of Archbishop Udumala Bala as Archbishop of Visakhapatnam on April 3

Hyderabad: The Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam is set to witness the installation of His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Udumala Bala as its new Archbishop on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Cathedral Grounds, Gnanapuram, Visakhapatnam.

The Eucharistic celebration will be led by His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, representing Pope Francis.

Several prominent figures from the Indian Church will be present at the event, including His Eminence Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Cardinal Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, who will preside over the celebration, and His Eminence Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop Emeritus of Bombay, who will deliver the homily. The event will also see the presence of other Archbishops, Bishops, Provincial Superiors, Priests, Religious, and lay faithful from across the country, making it a significant ecclesiastical occasion.

Following the liturgical celebration, a felicitation ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m., followed by a festal dinner at 8:00 p.m. The occasion marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Church in Coastal Andhra under Archbishop Bala’s leadership.

Background of Archbishop Udumala Bala

Born on June 18, 1954, in Gudur Village, Warangal, Archbishop Udumala Bala hails from a devout Catholic family and is one of eight siblings, including two religious sisters. He began his priestly formation at St. Pius X Minor Seminary, Fatima Nagar, Warangal, and later studied theology at St. John’s Regional Seminary, Ramanthapur, Hyderabad. He was ordained a priest on February 20, 1979.

From 1979 to 1986, he served in pastoral ministry, engaging closely with parish communities. He later took on administrative and academic roles, including Treasurer and Rector of St. John’s Seminary. He completed a Doctorate in Christian Ethics in Rome.

A prominent leader in the Indian Church, Archbishop Bala served as Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI (2006–2013) and later as Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy, and Religious (2015–2023). In 2013, he was appointed Bishop of Warangal and served as Apostolic Administrator of Khammam from 2022 to 2024. On February 8, 2025, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Visakhapatnam.

Day of Installation:

The day’s proceedings will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a group photograph at St. Joseph’s College for Women Grounds, Waltair R.S., followed by a procession to St. Peter’s Cathedral Grounds. The Solemn Eucharistic Celebration will begin at 5:30 p.m. The ceremony will conclude with felicitations at 7:00 p.m., and a festal dinner will follow at 8:00 p.m.

A History of the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam

Christianity in India dates back to the apostolic age, with St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew bringing the Gospel to the subcontinent in the first century A.D. The Visakhapatnam Pro-Vicariate was established in 1845 and raised to the status of a Vicariate Apostolic in 1850, a Diocese in 1886, and an Archdiocese in 2001. Today, the Archdiocese encompasses 83 parishes and mission stations, with 90 diocesan priests, and a vibrant community of religious men and women.

The Archdiocese has played a key role in establishing churches, schools, healthcare centers, and faith formation initiatives in the region. Archbishop Bala’s installation marks both the continuation of this legacy and the start of a new era for the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.