Punalur was separated from the Diocese of Quilon and created into a separate unit by the Bull “Verba Christ” of Pope John Paul II, issued on December 21, 1985.
 
Belgian Carmelite Fathers were the First Fathers of Punalur and of places around Punalur. During the second world war the First Fathers had to go back, entrusting the Church work to the Diocesan clergy.
 
Bp Mathias Kappil is the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Punalur.
 
The Diocese of Punalur comprises the entire civil district of Pathanamthitta, taluks of Kottarakara, and Kunnathur, Mavelikara, and several pakuthies of the taluks of Karunagappally and Chengannur.