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.
The Nuncio flew down to Kochi to get the resignation letter of Bishop Antony Kariyil. Now he flew down again to get the resignation letter from Cardinal Alencherry. I think that the Kochi airport could very well be converted as a “temporary office of the Nunciature”
The Catholic Church of Kerala is the backbone of the Catholic Church of India. Some cleaning process is now taking place in the Kerala Catholic Church hierarchy. Great news indeed.
I don’t agree with the type of comment people have written above. Ruthless, careless, senseless.
It is undoubtedly a critical time for the church in India and the universal Catholic church as well. We wish and pray that there may not be further division, instead there would be true reconciliation, peace and unity. So too the believers may continue living their faith undisturbed, maintaining Christian spirit.
Readers may also recall that I had written a strong article “Let’s Face It” that was subsequently translated and published in Malayalam. The hierarchy has now lost 6 wickets 1 Gallella Prasad of Cuddapah 2. Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar 3. Nuncio Guam Battista di Quatro 4. K. A. William of Mysore 5. Cardinal Alencherry 6. Abp Andrews. The next wicket should be Cardinal Gracias of Bombay.
Why bloody Thazhath is heading CBCI? He is not even worthy to b priest. His arrogance and power hunger for power has lead to dis anarchy in Ernakulam Diocese. His ego is like mount Everest.
If bishops (not recruited out of IAS like exams) anointed By God as Shephereds (in the place of Apostle not decan) are given timely transfers not more than 7 or 10 or 12years maximum in one chair
by the catholic church in india many blunders can be forseen and rectified in advance atleast as indian administrative system works.
Because in the ancient time this post was maintained by humble and saintly bishops the time and petsons are changed, value systems in democratic countries are absolutely diffeentv….in the past this post had traditionally having absolute power over temporal goods but now they they are endowed with huge acres of lands, number of schools, collages, universities, dispensaries, Hospitals, social work NGOs and all societies of his dioceses etc…) of a diocese consisted of number of districts having administrative power over religious institutes in his dioceses, the absolute power over the human resource power of priests of his diocese…. The capacity as spiritual leader, right to institute and disolve all rights of the consultive committees of his diocese is not less than a king….? in demorcatic country. It is not at all a justice system working in the intrigue of divine work.
How can a human person maintain this power with justice when he has absolute power? He can distroy priests under him. He can use and miss use religious nuns and brothers under them….He can have abusive technics with his gangs of Hooligans of his 20 presentage to rule the 80 presentage of his diocese rather than working for the Lord’s kingdom. 😢
Having absolute secular power even more than civil authority the collectors and SPs who are constantly transfered. Unfortunately many who are sellected for the post of bishop in india are neither experts in educational institutions, nor in hospital administration, social work like high level managerial skill is required over which his last word is given higest wait. Usually they are seminary professors, the bookworms.
Indian church is under curse of videshi pathari (Rome return bookworm Bishops ) who will never be able to accomolish the command of the Lord to the church in his mission….who will save indian church from this bishops absolute power and lexuaruy at the cost of the poor… Flock of the Church….
This is BIG and a huge victory for the clergy and laity that didn’t give in to the cardinal’s diktat. CONGRATULATIONS to all concerned.