When Bishop Joshy George Pottackal stood in Mainz Cathedral on March 15 to be consecrated an auxiliary bishop, the moment carried a significance far beyond his personal journey. For many of the faithful, it was a visible sign of the Catholic Churchʼs universality — a Church that transcends borders, cultures, and languages.
Born in Kerala, India, and a member of the Carmelite Order, the 48-year-old prelate has become the first bishop in a German diocese with a non-European background.
His appointment comes at a time when the Catholic Church in Germany is increasingly shaped by global migration. About a quarter of Catholics and priests in the country have roots outside Germany, Pottackal said, yet their presence often remains largely unnoticed in public life.
“I am thankful to Pope Leo XIV for the honor of being able to give these people a face, so to speak, and public recognition,” Pottackal told EWTN News.
His consecration, attended by family members, fellow Carmelites from around the world, diocesan clergy and faithful, and representatives from civic life and other Christian communities, underscored the broader significance of the moment. “I really felt like a part of the universal Church,” Pottackal said.
A call he did not expect
When he first received news of his appointment in November, Pottackal admitted to surprise, and even doubt. “Why me?” he recalled asking himself. He said he had never imagined becoming a bishop, noting that he comes from pastoral ministry rather than academia. Yet after a period of discernment, he came to see the nomination as a call from God, one that required trust and humility.
“I felt it was a call from God, despite my shortcomings and the feeling that I was not worthy of the nomination,” he said. “Despite these doubts I decided to trust God and his guidance and say yes to his call.”
Ordained a priest on Dec. 28, 2003, Pottackal moved to Germany the following year and has spent more than two decades in pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Mainz. His experience spans parish work, youth ministry, and diocesan administration, including service as vicar for clergy. Those years, he said, have prepared him for his new responsibility in guiding the local Church.
Listening in a secularized society
Serving in a society marked by deep secularization, the bishop emphasizes listening as a cornerstone of his pastoral mission. He believes the Church must engage in meaningful dialogue, taking seriously the concerns and hopes of people.
“A synodal church is the way to bring our church forward in a secularized society,” he said, highlighting the importance of shared discernment guided by the Holy Spirit. At the same time, he stressed that the German Church remains inseparably part of the universal Catholic Church, a communion that spans continents and traditions.
One of his key concerns is the growing distance between young people and the Church in Europe. Rather than focusing solely on declining attendance, he pointed to a deeper openness among young people to Christian values.
“Young people deserve that you listen to them, take their views, worries, and interests seriously and let them play an active role,” he said. “Authenticity matters.”
Carmelite roots, global horizons
Pottackalʼs intercultural journey has shaped his understanding of the Church. Raised in the ancient Christian tradition of Keralaʼs Thomas Christians, whose origins trace to the earliest centuries of Christianity, he encountered a different yet equally rich expression of the faith in Germany.
“The essence of the faith is the same,” he said, citing St. Augustineʼs maxim “Love and do what you will” as a guiding principle for ministry in a new cultural setting.
His spiritual identity as a Carmelite remains central. Drawing inspiration from the prophet Elijah and the Virgin Mary, he described his vocation as one grounded in contemplation and attentiveness to Godʼs word. “Being rooted in and inspired by Scripture is the essence of my spiritual identity as a Carmelite, a priest, and now a bishop,” he said.
As auxiliary bishop of Mainz, his responsibilities include overseeing consecrated life, ecumenism, interreligious dialogue, social responsibility, and the Churchʼs global connections. While he is still becoming familiar with these areas, he said, he views them as essential to the Churchʼs witness in the world today.
Looking beyond Europe, Pottackal reflected on the Church in Asia, where Christianity continues to grow, often in the face of persecution. He cautioned against complacency or the rise of what he called a “personality cult” where Christians enjoy social acceptance.
“I think it is important to remember that we have a great message of which we can be proud and to concentrate on that message and live according to it,” he said.