File photo of Pope Francis. | Photo Credit: AP
Although Pope Francis could not fulfill his long-term wish to visit India, he promoted Indian priest, who is a Vatican official, just a month ago in the rank of Cardinal-remarkable moment for the Catholic community in the country.
Francis, who was the first non -European Pope in almost 1300 years, died of Easter Monday. He was 88. The Pope was diagnosed with double pneumonia.
His efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict over how the Holy Mass in the Syro-Malabar church, one of the Oriental Catholic Churches, failed.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis also moved forward with the causes of the Holy Revereled Indian characters and offered many pride for many believers.
During his papacy, Pope Francis promoted Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavar and Sister Eufrasia Eluvalhingal from Keraly to St.
In 2019, another Catholic nun was born in Kerala Mariam Thresia by Pope Francis as held in the Basilica of Sts. Peter in Rome. She was the third nun and the fourth member of the clergy of the Syro-Malabar church based in Kerala, which was canonized to the Saints League.
His papacy also saw Devasahayam Pillai, who accepted Christianity in the 18th century and was declared holy – he became the first Indian layman to be canonized.
Devasahayam was recommended for the Vatican Congratulations process in 2004, at the request of the diocese of the Kottar diocese, the Tamil Nadu Council and the Indian Catholic Bishops’ Conference in India.
Pope Francis canonized the blessed Devasahayam Pillai, along with nine other, during the canonization mass on the iconic Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican in 2022.
It was in a great consistency that took place in the Vatican on December 7, 2024, that 51 -year -old Indian priest George Jacob Kovakad was promoted by Pope Francis to the rank of Cardinal.
The ceremony held in the Basilica of St. Peter and participated in spiritual and dignitaries from all over the world, witnessing the induction of 21 new cardinals from different countries.
Kookad’s appointment came from the Archdiocese of Changanassery in Kerala and brought the total number of Indian cardinals to six, which further strengthened the country’s representation in the Vatican.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, other leaders and churches leading throughout India, welcomed the announcement with joy and pride. The Indian government sent a delegation led by the Minister of the Union George Kurian to witness the ceremony.
Before the event, the Indian delegation also had an audience with Pope Francis. Koocad has been organizing the international paths of Pope Francis since 2020.
Previously, Kovakad, who held the title of Monsignora, was declared the title Archbishop Nisibis in Turkey. It is currently based in the Vatican.
During his papacy, the Syro-Malabar Church was disrupted by a crisis with a strong part of the priests and members of the church community in the Archdiocese Ernaculam-English Disagree with the decision of Syro-Malabar in August 2021 of the Unified Holy Mass.
This decision was ordered by a standardized way of carrying out the Holy Mass, where the priests are obliged to face the congregation only at the beginning and at the end of the service and turned towards the altar for the rest of the mass (known as the formula 50:50).
Published – April 22 2025 02:24 IS
