By Our Correspondent
Kochi: The Syro-Malabar Church (SMC) has expressed happiness over the elevation of Monsignor George Koovakad of the Changanassery Archdiocese as a Cardinal.
Monsignor Koovakad joined the Vatican Diplomatic Service in 2006 and served the Apostolic Nunciatures (Embassies) in Algeria, South Korea, Iran, Costa Rica and Venezulea.
He has been working at the Vatican State Secretariat since 2020, in-charge of the Papal itineraries around the world.
The 51-year-old Cardinal will be a dynamic presence in the universal Catholic Church , claimed in an official communication from the Syro-Malabar Church here on Oct 07.
He will be created a Cardinal at the Consistory to be held on December 08, 2024 at St Peter’s Basilica at Vatican.
Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, Mar Raphael Thattil said the whole Church “rejoiced and felt proud” at the elevation of Monsignor Koovakad to the College of cardinals.
“He has been a faithful son of the Church and a spiritual father”, Archbishop said.
Monsignor Koovakad is the fifth cardinal from the Syro-Malabar Church, one of the largest Eastern rite churches which is in communion with Rome.
Monsignor koovakad is also the first priest from India to be directly elevated as a cardinal , the communication added, he is the youngest priest from India to be elevated as cardinal at the young age of 51 years.
SMC sources, on anonymity , said that they expect the Major Archbishop to be elevated to the college of cardinals along with Koovakad as it was the customary practice to elevate the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church as cardinal.
