title: Francis Kalist
text: # Francis Kalist
  
  Bishop Francis Kalist is the Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. He served as Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Meerut, India from 2009 till 19 March 2022.
  
  ## Early life
  
  Kalist was born on 23 November 1957 in Reethapuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
  
  ## Priesthood
  
  On 30 December 1982, Kalist was ordained a Catholic priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Meerut.
  
  ## Episcopate
  
  Kalist was appointed bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Meerut on 3 Dec 2008 and ordained a bishop on 8 Feb 2009 by Patrick Nair. On 19 March 2022, Pope Francis appointed him as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore and he was installed on 29 April 2022. He received the pallium on 29 June 2022 from Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican.
  
  