The Syro-Malabar Church is left without voting rights in the papal elections after Cardinal Mar George Alencherry of the Syro-Malabar church recently turned. | Photo Credit: Jomon Pampavallley
Although the prospects of the next papal elections on the horizon in Rome, the Church of Syro-Malabar-one of the most important Eastern Catholic churches under the Holy table-is without a voting representative. Cardinal Mar George Allencherry, former chief of church Syro-Malabar, turned to 80 years on April 19, losing his capacity to vote in the conclave.
According to the church protocol, only cardinals under 80 can choose in the papal concrele, which decides on another Pope. This is left by the Syro-Malabar church, despite its large community of 5.5 million members, without a voice in the selection procedure.
Fr. Antony Vadakkekar, Secretary of the Media Commission of the Syro-Malabar Church, noted that Cardinal Mar Basemis Cleemis from the ceremony of Syro-Malan and Cardinal Mar George Kovakkad. “Although we cannot officially consider Mar Kovakkada as a representative of the Syro-Malabar Church, we still consider the Cardinals from Kerala to be part of our wider spiritual family,”. Vadakkekara said.
Vote
He also explained that there are currently four cardinals from India who are eligible to vote in the Conclave: Archbishop Antony Poola of Archdiocese Hyderab, Metropolitan Archbishop Filipe Neri of Goa, Cardinal Basilios Cleemis
However, MAR KOOVAKKAD, albeit from the Syro-Malabar church under the Archdiocese of Changanacherry, now serves as the Cardinal of the Latin Church and will not represent the Syro-Malabar church in the elections.
During the 2013 papal elections, which they saw that Pope Francis elected, Mar George Alcherry of the Church of Syro-Malabar and Mar Baselios Cleemis of the Malankar Church had voting rights. “In this conclave, Mary Alencherry was the face of the Syro-Malabar church in Rome. If his 80’s birthday fell a few days later, he could vote in the upcoming elections,” the church source said.
The Syro-Malabar Church based in Kerala remains one of the most influential eastern Catholic communities under the Holy See. However, the absence of a voting representative in the next Conclave underlines the challenges facing the Eastern Church in providing proportional representation in the global Catholic hierarchy.
Published – April 21, 2025 20:02
