His Holiness Pope Francis has erected the new Diocese of Kuzhithurai in Tamilnadu, India, bifurcated from the Diocese of Kottar, making it suffragan of the Archdiocese of Madurai. The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Fr. Jerome DhasVaruvel, SDB, belonging to the Salesian Province of Chennai, as the first Bishop of Kuzhithurai. The Church of the Most Holy Trinity at Thirithuvapuram, Kuzhithurai, Kanyakumari District, will become the Cathedral of the new Diocese.

This Ecclesiastical Provision was made public in Rome on Monday, 22nd December, 2014, at noon local time, corresponding to 16:30 hours, Indian Standard Time.

The new Diocese of Kuzhithurai extends to a total area of 915 sq. kms, has a Catholic population of 2,64,222 out of a total population of 8,55,485, has 100 Parishes, 123 Stations, 101 Diocesan Priests, 30 Religious Priests, 2 Religious Brothers, 267 Religious Sisters, 73 Seminarians, 18 Trained Catechists, 116 Educational Institutions, 22 Medical Institutions,  8 Charitable Institutions, 1 Social Centre, 2 Technical Production Centres.