Pope meets with delegate to Syro-Malabar Church

By Salvatore Cernuzio

Pope Francis on Monday received in audience Archbishop Cyril Vasil', the Pontifical Delegate to the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, on the eve of the latter’s departure for Kerala, India.

Last week, on 7 December, Pope Francis sent a video message to the faithful of the Syro-Malabar Archeparchy, calling for an end to the divisions and violence caused by a dispute over the celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy, known as the Holy Qurbana. Members of the Archeparchy continue to resist the liturgical indications definitively established by the Syro-Malabar Synod in 2021.

Sent to Kerala in August

Archbishop Vasil', a Jesuit and former rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, is currently Archbishop of Košice in Slovakia for Catholics of the Byzantine Rite. He is leaving for Kerala on Tuesday, 12 December.

Last August, he had already been sent by the Pope to the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, accompanied by Father Sunny Kokkaravalayil, professor of canon law at the Orientale, in an attempt to find a solution to the discussion about the compromise on the single form of the celebration of the Mass – a compromise that has been accepted by all eparchies of the Syro-Malabar Church with the sole exception of the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly.

“He came among you, and he too, on my behalf, has asked you to put an end to this fight, to put an end to the opposition and sometimes, to the violence —  there has been some!” the Pope said in his video message.

Divisions and violence

Archbishop Vasil' himself suffered acts of aggression by some of the faithful, who threw various objects at him during his previous journey. Earlier, dissidents had burned images of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches; and of Major Archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry, the head of the Syro-Malabar Church.

The latter recently presented his resignation to Pope Francis, who, on 7 December, accepted it together with that of the Apostolic Administrator Andrews Thazhath, Metropolitan of Trichur of the Syro-Malabars. The Holy Father has appointed a new Apostolic Administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis (“while the see is vacant and at the discretion of the Holy See”): Bishop Bosco Puthur, bishop emeritus of the Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne of the Syro-Malabars.

The Pope's warning

The situation in this great Indian Church, with its ancient roots, has reached such a point of exasperation that the Pope has broadcast his personal video message to dispel any doubts about his position on the matter. In his video message, Pope Francis asks the faithful not to become a “sect” and not to bring the situation to the point where ecclesiastical sanctions become necessary. 

In the meantime, his delegate will return to India.