Ambrose Madtha

Ambrose Madtha (2 November 1955 – 8 December 2012) was a Roman Catholic archbishop and the Nuncio to Ivory Coast. He was the sixth Indian to become an Apostolic Nuncio.

Early life

Ambrose Madtha was born in Belthangady, on 2 November 1955 to Joseph Madtha and Mary Madtha. Joseph Madtha (circa 1917 - 28 January 2007), son of David Madtha and Angeline Madtha was a humble and religious man. He lived a decent life with his wife Mary Madtha near the Most Holy Redeemer Church, Belthangady. He did his schooling at Church Higher Primary School, Belthangady which was near his home.

Career Madtha was ordained as a priest on 28 March 1982. He earned a Master of Arts in economics from Nagpur University, a Bachelor of Education degree from Lucknow University, and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Urban University. On 27 July 2008 he was ordained bishop by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue with Archbishop Albert D'Souza of Agra and Bishop Gerald J. Mathias of Lucknow as co-ordainers. More than 15 bishops from India and abroad joined the ceremony along with 300 priests and 600 nuns. On this occasion Madtha thanked people in Hindi, English, French and Chinese. Madtha also speaks Albanian, German, Italian, Kannada, Konkani, Russian and Spanish.