Saturday, February 18, 2012
Syro-Malabar Church Major Archbishop Mar George Alencherry was consecrated as Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVII at a ceremony in Vatican on Saturday.
Mar Alencherry is among the 22 new cardinals consecrated by the Pope. From his throne in front of the St Peter’s Basilica, the Pope gave Alencherry a red silk hat and a ring, symbolic of the high station in the church.
The Pope also announced the appointment of Alencherry as the titular Archpriest of San Bernardo alle Terme in Rome, the same position held by his predecessor late Varkey Vithaythil.
Several bishops, priests and faithful from Kerala witnessed the ceremony at the St Peter’s Basilica. Malankara Catholic Church Major Archbishop and Catholic Bishops Conference of India vice-president Mar Baselius Cleemis and Kottayam Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkat represented the Catholic Church. Federal Minister of State for Agriculture Prof. K V Thomas represented the federal government and State Water Works Minister P J Joseph the Kerala government on the occasion.
Alencherry is the fourth Malayali and 10th Indian to be elevated as Cardinal. His Malayali predecessors were Mar Joseph Cardinal Parecattil, Mar Antony Cardinal Padiyara and Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil. On his elevation as Cardinal, Alencherry has become one of the three Indian prelates who have voting right in the Pope’s election.
Mar Alencherry, who was serving as the Bishop of Thuckalay, was elected Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church on May 24, 2011 following the death of Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil.
Alencherry was born in Thuruthy, Changanacherry. He was ordained a priest on November 19, 1972. He was secretary of the Archeparch of Changanacherry and assistant pastor of the cathedral as well as director of “Sunday Schools” in the archeparchy.
New Cardinal George Alencherry of India is seen with red biretta, a four-cornered hat,
on the head during a consistory ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the
Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals
from around the world on Saturday.
 |
| Mar George Alencherry |
Mar Alencherry is among the 22 new cardinals consecrated by the Pope. From his throne in front of the St Peter’s Basilica, the Pope gave Alencherry a red silk hat and a ring, symbolic of the high station in the church.
The Pope also announced the appointment of Alencherry as the titular Archpriest of San Bernardo alle Terme in Rome, the same position held by his predecessor late Varkey Vithaythil.
Several bishops, priests and faithful from Kerala witnessed the ceremony at the St Peter’s Basilica. Malankara Catholic Church Major Archbishop and Catholic Bishops Conference of India vice-president Mar Baselius Cleemis and Kottayam Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkat represented the Catholic Church. Federal Minister of State for Agriculture Prof. K V Thomas represented the federal government and State Water Works Minister P J Joseph the Kerala government on the occasion.Alencherry is the fourth Malayali and 10th Indian to be elevated as Cardinal. His Malayali predecessors were Mar Joseph Cardinal Parecattil, Mar Antony Cardinal Padiyara and Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil. On his elevation as Cardinal, Alencherry has become one of the three Indian prelates who have voting right in the Pope’s election.
Mar Alencherry, who was serving as the Bishop of Thuckalay, was elected Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church on May 24, 2011 following the death of Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil.
Alencherry was born in Thuruthy, Changanacherry. He was ordained a priest on November 19, 1972. He was secretary of the Archeparch of Changanacherry and assistant pastor of the cathedral as well as director of “Sunday Schools” in the archeparchy.
New Cardinal George Alencherry of India is seen with red biretta, a four-cornered hat,
on the head during a consistory ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the
Vatican February 18, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI installed 22 new Roman Catholic cardinals
from around the world on Saturday.
