By Matters India Reporter
Kochi, Dec 7, 2023: Putting an end to speculations and rumors over the Vatican ambassador’s sudden and brief visit to the Kochi airport, the Syro-Malabar Church on December 7 announced that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of its major archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry.
The Pope has also accepted the resignation of Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur from the post of apostolic administrator of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, it was announced at a press conference held at St Thomas Mount, the headquarters of the Oriental Church at Kakkanad, a suburb of Kochi, Kerala.
The press conference at 4:30 pm was addressed by Cardinal Alencherry and Curia Bishop Sebastian Vaniyapurackal.
It was also announced that until a new major archbishop is elected at the next Synod meeting in January, Bishop Vaniyapurackal will function as the administrator of the Syro-Malabar Church.
Bishop Emeritus Bosco Puthur of Melbourne has been appointed the temporary administrator of the archdiocese of Ernakulam
At the press conference, the cardinal thanked the Pope for accepting his resignation.
The two resignations took place two days after Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli gave Cardinal Alencherry two letters from the Pope at the Kochi airport lounge.
The Pope’s letter in Latin accepting the resignations noted Cardinal Alencherry’s zeal and generosity in the past 12 years to help the Oriental Church achieve various important milestones.
The Pope also noted that Cardinal Alencherry had last year celebrated the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination and 25th anniversary as a bishop.
“I was pleased to join you in giving thanks to the Lord, expressing as well my gratitude for the dedication shown over the course of those years by your many pastoral and educational efforts and initiatives,” the letter says.
Cardinal Alencherry was elected to the post of Major Archbishop of the Church on May 29, 2011.
“Now that you have reached two significant jubilees and accomplished the pastoral objectives set for the flock entrusted to your care, I consider your resignation not as the conclusion, but the fulfilment of your service. Indeed, this step represents a further witness of fidelity to the Gospel and a new way of serving the Church, above all through contemplative and intercessory prayer, as well as by continuing to offer your counsel to the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia of which you are a member,” the Pope’s letter adds.