By Stanislaus Alla
New Delhi, Jan 24, 2025: The Vatican on January 24 announced the appointment of Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad as the prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Simultaneously, he will continue to be the coordinator of Apostolic Journeys at the Secretary of State.
The 51-year-old cardinal belongs to the Syro-Malabar Church. He was ordained a priest in 2004 for the Changanacherry Archeparchy. He served the Church in various capacities and Pope Francis created him a Cardinal on December 7, 2024.
Cardinal Koovakad joins other illustrious Indian cardinals such as Simon Lourdusamy and Ivan Dias to serve the universal Church as prefects. Earlier, Cardinal Lourdusamy served as the prefect for the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and Cardinal Dias headed the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
The announcement occurs in the diamond jubilee year of the publication of Nostra Aetate, a Second Vatican Council’s official document. This ‘Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions’ was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965. Nostra Aetate ushered in a new way of relating to those belonging to other religions as well as initiated interreligious dialogue.
Interreligious Dialogue traditionally included four aspects: dialogue of life, dialogue of action, dialogue of theological exchange and dialogue of religious experience. Several theologians and scholars expand the meaning and significance of Interreligious Dialogue, drawing its fruits for the Church’s life and mission.
If Pope John Paul II took several steps to strengthen the interreligious dialogue as an important aspect of his ministry, Pope Francis made it as a constituent dimension of his global mission. Whether it was in Dhaka or in Dubai or when he met the faithful in Myanmar or Mongolia, Pope Francis always spoke of interreligious dialogue.
In the Vatican itself, the Pope received several delegations of those who belonged to other religions and exhorted them on the need to work together for peace and wellbeing of all.
Pope Francis is deeply aware that religious fundamentalism, like a virus, is destroying our life and our cultures in numerous ways. However, one may view others’ religions, deep respect for them and dialogue with them is a must in the contemporary world. Obviously, all religions are in need of purification and renewal and mutual dialogue has the potential to facilitate this process.
Those who are sincerely engaged in Interreligious Dialogue will be empowered to work for peace and for the values of the Kingdom -of fraternity and justice, of dignity and rights, of light and life.
Interreligious Dialogue has emerged, in the last few decades and more so under Pope Francis, into an indispensable dimension of the Church’s evangelizing mission. The Church has to find newer ways to reach out to those that belong to other religions so that we all can work together, grow together and flourish together.
At its best, Indian culture in which Cardinal Koovakad grew up, invites all to become respectful of others. Shouldering the new important responsibility, may India’s young and energetic Cardinal find ways to foster fraternity and dialogue among people of diverse religions, cultures and worldviews.
(Jesuit Father Stanislaus Alla teaches Moral Theology at Delhi’s Vidyajyoti College of Theology.)