Bangalore 19 November 2020 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Most Rev. Thumma Bala (76) from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Hyderabad, Telangana on 19 November, 2020. Archbishop Thumma Bala was born on 24 April 1944, in Narimetta, Warangal Diocese.
He was ordained priest on 21 December 1970. At the age of 42 he was appointed the second Bishop of Warangal on 17 November 1986 by Pope St. John Paul II and he was ordained Bishop on 12 March 1987. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him at the age of 66 as the Archbishop of Hyderabad on 12 March 2011. He was installed as the tenth Archbishop Hyderabad on 5 May 2011.
Before appointing as the Bishop he was the rector of St. Paul’s Regional Catechists’ Training Centre, Nuzivid, Vijayawada diocese from 1978-1980. Professor of Catechetics at St. John’s Regional Seminary, Hyderabad from 1984 – 1986. Procurator at St. John’s Regional Seminary Hyderabad from 1984-1986.
As a Bishop he was the Chairman of Telugu Regional Youth Commission from 1987-1995. Chairman of Jyotirmai Society from 1990 to 1995. Chairman of Regional Catechetical Commission: 1987-1995. Chairman of CBCI Health Commission 2002-2006. Member of Pontifical council for Health Care Apostolate, Vatican: 2002 -2007.
He holds Licentiate in Pastoral Theology Catechetics from Pontifical Salesian University, Rome (1980-1983). He is a priest for 49 years and a Bishop for 33 years.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General, CCBI