Bengaluru: His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the renunciation plea of His Excellency Most Rev. Sebastianappan Singaroyan (67) from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Salem, Tamilnadu in India, and has appointed His Excellency Most Rev. Lawrence Pius Dorairaj (65), Bishop of Dharmapuri, as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Diocese of Salem.
Bishop Singaroyan was born on 18 January, 1952 at Elathagiri in Dharmapuri District, Tamilnadu. He studied philosophy and theology at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore. He was ordained priest on 27 May, 1978 for the Diocese of Salem. At age of 48 he was ordained fourth Bishop of Salem on 18 October, 2000.
He took doctorate in theology from Pontifical Lateran University, Rome in 1995. He has M.A. (Tamil Language), M.A. (Public Administration), M. Sc. (Psychology) all in the University of Madras. He was the professor of theology and director of pastoral ministry at Good Shepherd major seminary, Coimbatore. He was the Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Proclamation from 2011 to 2015. He is a priest for 41 years and a bishop for 19 years.