Curriculum Vitae of Auxiliary Bishop Joshy George Pottackal O. Carm.

Fr. Joshy George Pottackal O. Carm., a member of the Carmelite Order, was born on June 6, 1977, as the second of three children of the late George and Eliamma Pottackal in Meenkunnam, Kerala, in India. His two siblings are Fr. Joyson O. Carm., who serves as a parish priest in Canada, and Joby, who is a school teacher and who lives with his family in Kerala.

After completing the elementary and high school education in Meenkunnam, Arakkuzha und Maradi, Fr. Joshy entered the Carmel Nivas Minor Seminary in Karukadom, Kerala, in 1992, where he did his secondary education. In May, 1995 he entered the novitiate in Kartikulam, Kerala and made his first profession to the Order of Carmelites on May 14, 1996. He studied bachelor of philosophy at the Capuchin Calvary Institute of Philosophy in Thrissur. His pastoral internship was back at the Carmel Nivas minor seminary for a year. He then did bachelor of theology at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram in Bangalore. His final solemn profession to the Order was on May 15, 2001. On December 28, 2003, he was ordained as priest.

Right after his ordination, Fr. Joshy was assigned to pastoral ministry in Germany along with two of his confreres, Fr. Sijoy and Fr. Cyril. After completing a beginners’ course in German language in Bangalore and Pune, in 2004 he arrived in Mainz, Germany. He continued his language studies at the Kreuzberg Language Institute in Bonn and then the pastoral seminar for religious priests at the Philosophical-Theological College in Münster. Since 2006 he has been serving in the Diocese of Mainz – initially as city youth chaplain and along with that as parochial vicar in several parishes in Mainz. During this period, he completed his pastoral formation course in the diocese.

In 2009 he was appointed as parish priest of the Catholic parish of Neckartal and served the flocks faithfully for 13 years until 2022 while residing at the Carmelite community in Hirschhorn. In 2016 he was elected as Vice-Dean of the Deanery Bergstraße Ost, and from 2021 until the deaneries were dissolved, he also served as acting dean. From 2016 till present, he has additionally held the office of regional superior for the members of the Indian St. Thomas Province of his order living in Germany.

On 1 November 2022, he moved to the Bishop’s Ordinariate in Mainz. Since then, he has been living in the Carmelite Monastery and serving as Vicar for Clergy with a focus on the priests of the diocese. In addition, he took on the newly created role of Prefect of Formation at the seminary from 2024 until November 2025, together with Diocesan Youth Chaplain Daniel Kretsch. He also serves as Notary of the Diocese of Mainz. Fr. Joshy is an advisory member of the Council of Priests of the Diocese of Mainz and previously served as a member of the Diocesan Council of Religious.

On November 26, 2025, Pope Leo XIV appointed him as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Mainz. His episcopal ordination is scheduled for March 15. He will be named Titular Bishop of Ceramussa, a defunct diocese in the former Roman province of Numidia in North Africa. In Mainz, he will serve as episcopal vicar for the religious. With bishop-elect Pottackal, the German Bishops’ Conference will have three members born outside Germany. Per fidem ductus – guided by faith: In this motto, he expresses his trust that the Spirit of God strengthens and accompanies him in his mission as shepherd, brother, and servant of the people. He looks forward to this new mission, to many meaningful encounters and conversations, and to fruitful collaborations.

A verse from the Book of Proverbs (17:3) reflects his life well: “The crucible for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.”

Life has not always been easy for Fr. Joshy. He lost his mother in an accident in 1995, and in the following year his father, who had been seriously ill for many years, died. However, his aunt kept the family together and was a strong supporter of the three siblings. These experiences have shaped and strengthened his journey.

Fr. Joshy is a good shepherd who knows his sheep well. Never has he misused his authority. His balanced views and humble manners have touched and won over many people’s hearts. Looking back today, he recognizes that God has always had a good plan for him – even when the going gets tough. He continues to be a sign that the Church needs shepherds who have got the smell their flock and who lead them from the front.

May the good God guide him on all his new adventures!