Diocese of Cochin

Diocese of Cochin

Diœcesis Coccinensis

കൊച്ചി രൂപത
Coat of arms
Location
CountryIndia
Episcopal conference
Ecclesiastical regionKerala
Ecclesiastical provinceVerapoly
Deaneries6
HeadquartersFort Kochi, Kerala
Coordinates9°57′53″N 76°14′34″E / 9.964774°N 76.242738°E / 9.964774; 76.242738
Statistics
Area236 km2 (91 sq mi)
Population
  • Total
  • Catholics
  • (as of 2021)
  • 625,500
  • 182,324 (28.2%)
Parishes51
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established4 February 1557 (4 February 1557)
CathedralSanta Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Fort Cochin
Patron saint
Secular priests166 Diocesan Priests

116 Religious Priests

545 Religious Sisters
Language
  • Malayalam
  • English
Current leadership
PopeLeo XIV
BishopAntony Kattiparambil
Metropolitan ArchbishopJoseph Kalathiparambil
Vicar GeneralJosy Kandanattuthara
Episcopal VicarsFrancis Xavier Kalathiveetil
Judicial VicarJoshy George Alesseril
Bishops emeritus
Website
dioceseofcochin.org

The Diocese of Cochin (Latin: Diœcesis Coccinensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Cochin, Kerala, India. A constituent of the sui iuris Latin Church, the diocese was established in 1557 after the domination of the Portuguese-speaking missionaries. The diocese is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Verapoly. According to Annuario Pontificio 2025, Diocese of Cochin is the first diocese of Kerala

The diocese is situated with the Arabian Sea in the west, the Archdiocese of Verapoly in both north and east, and the Diocese of Alleppey in the south. The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica in Fort Cochin is the diocese's cathedral where the Diocesan Administrator resides. Pope Francis appointed James Raphael Anaparambil, Bishop of Diocese of Alleppey, as apostolic administrator sede plena to the diocese on 11 October 2024 and his term has ended on 8th December by the installation of Antony Kattiparambil as the Bishop of Cochin.

On 25 October 2025, Pope Leo XIV appointed Antony Kattiparambil as the bishop of the Diocese of Cochin. His episcopal ordination was on 7th December 2025 at the Basilica Nagar- Parade ground Fort Cochin and he was installed as the bishop of Cochin by the next day at Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Kochi.