Syro-Malabar Church leader elevated to Cardinal
January 6th, 2012 - 8:49 pm ICT by IANSKochi, Jan 6 (IANS) The Vatican has elevated Mar George Alencherry, the 66-year-old leader of Kerala’s Syro-Malabar Church, to a Cardinal.
The announcement was simultaneously made Friday at the church headquarters here and at the Vatican.
Alencherry, the Major Archbishop of the Ernakulam-Angamaly diocese would be enthroned a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican Feb 18.
The Syro-Malabar Church is one of three churches in Kerala that owe their allegiance to the Pope and are part of the Roman Catholic Church. The other two are the Latin and Syro-Malankara churches.
Born in Kottayam district, Alencherry was ordained a priest in 1972 and has since then held important posts in the Church.
He was ordained a bishop in 1997 and last May was elected the Major Archbishop by his church.
Speaking to IANS, Fr Paul Thelekkat, spokesperson of the Syro-Malabar Church said that Alencherry will be the country’s youngest Cardinal.
“At present there are five Cardinals in India, of which three are above 80 years of age and hence do not have voting rights. Now, Alencherry would become the third Cardinal in the country and would be one among the 120 Cardinals who have voting rights to elect the Pope,” said Thelekkat.
- Catholics in Kerala elated as Alencherry ordained cardinal - Feb 18, 2012
- Cardinal-designate George Alencherry leaves for Vatican - Feb 15, 2012
- Catholics upset at cardinal's 'reported' view on shooting - Feb 22, 2012
- Syro Malabar Catholic Archbishop Vithayathil passes away - Apr 01, 2011
- Kerala cardinal passes away - Apr 01, 2011
- India-born archbishop named Vatican's top UN envoy - Jul 17, 2010
- Newly appointed Cardinal arrives in India - Mar 03, 2012
- CBI questions head of Syrian Jacobite Church in murder case - Oct 21, 2011
- Kathakali meets Christ: Holy Mass on stage - Jul 17, 2011
- Dwindling numbers worry Kerala church - Aug 22, 2010
- Global recession hits 'outsourcing' to Kerala churches - Aug 10, 2009
- Kerala Christian priest faces murder charge - May 07, 2010
- Postal stamp on Saint Alphonsa released - Nov 16, 2008
- Bigger conspiracy in killing, says murdered priest's widow - May 09, 2010
- Pope John Paul II To Be Beatified By Vatican On May 1 - Jan 15, 2011
Tags: allegiance, angamaly, benedict xvi, cardinal, cardinals, church headquarters, church leader, fr paul, India, kerala, kochi, pope benedict, pope benedict xvi, roman catholic church, spokesperson, syro malabar church, three churches, vatican, voting rights