Abp. Elias Frank Appointed to Dicastery for Evangelization

New Delhi, August 13, 2026 (CCBI): Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Elias Frank of Calcutta as a member of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches.

According to the decree issued in Rome, Archbishop Elias will contribute to the missionary and evangelizing mission of the universal Church through his service to the Dicastery.

Archbishop Elias Frank was born on 15 August 1962 in Bantwal, Infant Jesus Parish, in the Diocese of Mangalore. He was ordained a priest on 23 April 1993 at Our Lady of Happy Voyage Church, Howrah, for the Archdiocese of Calcutta.

Pope Francis appointed him as the second Bishop of Asansol on 3 July 2023. He was ordained bishop on 24 August 2023. On 28 June 2025, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Calcutta and succeeded Archbishop Thomas D’Souza as Archbishop on 20 September 2025.

Pastoral Ministry and Canon Law: After his priestly ordination, Fr. Elias served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Church, Burdwan, from 1993 to 1995. From 1995 to 1996, he served as priest-in-charge of Kristo Jyothi Church, Basinda, and returned to Sacred Heart Church, Burdwan, as parochial vicar from 1996 to 1999.

Following the creation of the Diocese of Asansol, he served as parish administrator of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Durgapur, from 2002 to 2003. From 2005 to 2006, he was parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Burdwan. During the same period, he also served as a judge at the Inter-Diocesan Tribunal of Kolkata.

Archbishop Elias pursued higher studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome. He obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law in 2001–2002, followed by a Diploma in Jurisprudence and a Doctorate in Canon Law in 2003–2004.

Academic and Church Service: From 2007 to 2023, he served as a professor of “The Sanctifying Office of the Church” at the Faculty of Canon Law of the Pontifical Urbaniana University. Since 2020, he has also served as a visiting professor at the Accademia Alfonsiana in Rome.

He has authored two books and published numerous articles in scientific journals. He has also served the Church in several important academic and ecclesiastical responsibilities, including as editor of Ius Missionale, an external judge of the First Instance Tribunal of the Vicariate of Rome, and a consultor to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

He has also served as a commissioner for in favorem fidei marriage cases at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

By Dr. Stephen Alathra