Hyderabad, April 03, 2025: A historic moment awaits the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam as it prepares to witness the solemn 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.

Most Rev. Dr. Udumala Bala was born in Gudur Village in Warangal in Telangana

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

The event will be graced by the presence of several dignitaries of the Indian Church, 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, will be the homilist.

Also in attendance will be eminent Archbishops, Bishops, Provincial Superiors, Priests, Religious, and lay faithful from across the country, making this a truly national ecclesial celebration. The solemn liturgical celebration, followed by felicitation and festal dinner, will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Church in Coastal Andhra under the leadership of Archbishop Bala.

A Glorious Legacy: The History of the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam

The roots of Christianity in India trace back to the apostolic age when St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew brought the Gospel to the subcontinent in the first century A.D. These seeds of faith flourished through centuries of missionary zeal and pastoral commitment. In Southern India, the Portuguese Padroado system and the Propaganda Fide missions of the 17th century enabled the formal organization of evangelization efforts.

The Visakhapatnam Pro-Vicariate, established in 1845, originally encompassed all of Central India. It was raised to the status of Vicariate Apostolic in 1850, to a Diocese in 1886, and finally to an Archdiocese in 2001. Over the past 175 years, the archdiocese has grown to include 83 parishes and mission stations, served by 90 diocesan priests, along with numerous men and women religious.

Guided by successive shepherds and powered by a committed laity, the Archdiocese has established churches, schools, healthcare centres, and faith formation initiatives, forming a vibrant spiritual and social force for the Telugu-speaking faithful. The present moment marks both a culmination of this historic journey and a fresh beginning under Archbishop Bala’s pastoral leadership.

A Shepherd Formed in Faith: Profile of Archbishop Udumala Bala

Most Rev. Dr. Udumala Bala, born on June 18, 1954, in Gudur Village in Warangal, hails from a devout Catholic family. He 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 completed his theological studies at St. John’s Regional Seminary, Ramanthapur, Hyderabad. He was ordained a priest on February 20, 1979.

His early years in pastoral ministry from 1979 to 1986 were marked by grassroots engagement with parish communities. He then served in various administrative and academic roles — including Treasurer at St. John’s Seminary and later as its Rector from 1994 to 2006. His academic pursuits took him to Rome, where he completed his Doctorate in Christian Ethics.

A recognized 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). He was appointed Bishop of Warangal in 2013, and served as Apostolic Administrator of Khammam from 2022 to 2024. On February 8, 2025, Pope Francis appointed him as the Archbishop of Visakhapatnam. His academic and ecclesiastical credentials include a Diploma in Telugu, an M.A. in Philosophy, and several leadership roles in diocesan trusts and institutions.a