Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil's death mourned

Church has mourned the death of Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil on Friday. The funeral will be held on April 10 at the Ernakulam St Mary's Cathedral Basilica.

The head of the Syro-Malabar Church passed away at Kochi's Lisi Hospital on Friday afternoon after suffering a major cardiac arrest.

Cardinal Vithayathil's body will be kept for public homage at St George Basilica, Angamaly, on April 9.

A circular issued by Syro- Malabar Church said black flags would be hoisted and special prayers would be made at churches as part of the mourning.

The cardinal's funeral on April 10 will be attended by Catholic Bishops' Council of India president Cardinal Oswald Gracious, CCBI president Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Vatican representative in India and heads of Malankara and Latin Churches. Syro Malabar Bishops who are now in Vatican will arrive by next week.

The 84-year-old prelate was a well respected figure among churches and the civil society in India. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, President of the Catholic Bishop Conference of India, recalled Cardinal Vithayathil as a leader well esteemed and respected by civil society for his "clear vision and personal integrity".

He further recalled Cardinal Vithayathil as someone who "preached the Good News unceasingly and reminded both faithful and clergy of their first duty to announce the Gospel".

Earlier, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his condolences in a telegram to Bishop Bosco Puthur of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars.

"I was deeply saddened to hear of the death. I offer you, the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the entire Syro-Malabar Church my deepest condolences and the assurance of my prayers," he said.

"I recall with gratitude the cardinal's dedication and service to the Syro-Malabars and to the universal Church," he added. "I join you and all who mourn him, including the members of the late cardinal's family, in commending his soul to the infinite mercy of God our loving Father."

Political parties and representatives of state government as well last week condoled the death of Cardinal Vithayathil.

The CPI(M) in Kerala on Friday called Cardinal Vithayathil a spiritual leader who ceaselessly worked to spread the message of human love and compassion.

CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said Cardinal Vithayathil always stood by the side of the suffering by imbibing the true Christian spirit as enunciated in the teaching of Jesus Christ.