Elie-Jean-Joseph Morel

Elie-Jean-Joseph Morel (27 December 1862 – 15 June 1948) was a member of the Paris Foreign Missions Society and served as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry from 21 September 1909 until his resignation on 16 August 1929 due to health reasons. He succeeded Archbishop Joseph-Adolphe Gandy, who had requested a coadjutor before his death. Morel was born in Bellefontaine, Jura, and joined the Paris Foreign Missions Society in 1885. He was ordained as a priest on 24 September 1887 and initially worked in Pondicherry, holding various roles such as professor of science at the Colonial College and parish priest of Thennur.

During his episcopate, Morel faced opposition from high-caste Christians who refused to participate in his consecration due to disputes over equal rights for out-castes. He worked to improve teacher training and increase vocations within the diocese. During World War I, he took on parish duties in Villupuram until 1918, resuming his episcopal responsibilities afterward.

In 1919, Morel resigned due to poor health, specifically cataracts, and was succeeded by Auguste-Siméon Colas. He then served as chaplain to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny in Yerkaud before retiring to St. Martha Hospital in Bangalore, where he occasionally assisted during the absence of the local bishop. Morel died on 15 June 1948 after a short illness and was buried next to his predecessor, Archbishop Gandy, in Pondicherry’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral cemetery.