New head of Syro-Malabar Church elected

George Alencherry, bishop of Thuckalay, has been elected as the new Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church. The installation is to take place on May 29 at St. Marys Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam.

The decision to elect Bishop Alencherry, who will also be the archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, was taken unanimously by the Synod of Bishops in Cochin on Thursday. The Synod was attended by 44 bishops, including heads of all 29 Syro-Malabar eparchies.

The Syro-Malabar Church is the second largest Church among the Eastern Catholic Churches. The Syro-Malabar community traces its origin to the preaching of St Thomas, and currently has over 3,500 parishes and 3.7 million members across the country.

The May 26 election was necessitated following the death of Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil last month.

This was the first time that the Synod elected the head. The previous major archbishops Antony Padiara and Varkey Vithayathil were selected by the Vatican.

The new election is part of the new administrative system put in place within the Syro-Malabar Church after Pope John Paul II made it a Major Archiepiscopal Church in 1992.

The head of the Syro-Malabar Church, Bishop Alencherry, meanwhile said his services will be for all people of India. He stressed on inter-rite relations, inter-faith harmony and ecumenism.

His installation ceremony on May 29 will be attended by all Syro-Malabar bishops, Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinals, representatives from different dioceses and different parishes of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly.