Calcutta has a new archbishop.

Thomas D’Souza (picture left) was appointed the archbishop by Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday. He succeeds Lucas Sirkar, who had been appointed the eighth archbishop of Calcutta by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

Asked about his plans, D’Souza told Metro: “It is a vast area that comes under the archdiocese of Calcutta and I would truly like to be in touch with all. We are involved in a number of educational and healthcare projects and that will continue. We want to ensure that more poor people are benefited. We want to work with the people, spread goodwill and peace and serve the society at large.”

The archdiocese of Calcutta covers the Calcutta Metropolitan Area, North 24-Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, East and West Midnapore and parts of Bankura.

Born in Mangalore on August 26, 1950, D’Souza moved to Darjeeling when he was 16. In 1977, he was ordained a priest for the diocese of Darjeeling. He was appointed first bishop of the new diocese Bagdogra in 1997, and ordained bishop in January 1998. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Calcutta in March 2011, and took charge of that office on June 26.

With the latest appointment, he has become the full-fledged archbishop of the Catholic archdiocese of Calcutta with immediate effect, according to the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic church.

The news of the appointment of the new archbishop was announced simultaneously in Rome, New Delhi and Calcutta at 4.30pm on Thursday.