KERALA: Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan of New York, who is on a five-day visit to Kerala state in southern India, has lauded the Catholic Church in India for its diversity.

Cardinal Dolan is chief guest of the Syro-Malankara Church to preside over a program connected with the 63th death anniversary of Servant of God Mar Ivanios, who helped bring a section of the Jacobite Church to the Catholic fold.

At a time when fear and violence is escalating in the world, the values of unity that the Catholic Church holds high is encouraging, said the cardinal said during Mass July 15 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, headquarters of the Syro-Malankara Church.

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, head of the church, along with some 10 bishops and several priests concelebrated Mass.

The Catholic Church in India comprises the Latin rite and two Eastern rites called Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara.--ucanews.com