India’s Eastern Church head named in Vatican panel

Oct 23, 2024

ROME: The India-based Syro-Malabar Church has welcomed the appointment of its head, Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil, to a ten-member special Vatican committee on Eastern rite Churches.

The appointment made by Pope Francis "is a major recognition to the Syro-Malabar Church,” said Father Antony Vadakkekara, spokesperson of the southern Kerala-headquartered Church.

Thattil was "appointed a few days ago, and we were informed today,” he told UCA News on Oct. 23.

Vadakkekara said the special committee advises Pope Francis on forming policies on Eastern Churches.
With 35 dioceses in India and abroad, Thattil represents the second-largest Eastern rite Church in communion with the Holy See. It claims a membership of some 5 million Catholics.

“No doubt, the appointment shows Pope Francis's special consideration toward the Church that is spread across the globe,” the Vincentian priest added.

Thattil’s presence will “effectively help” the Eastern rite Churches worldwide, Vadakkekara added.

Before his elevation as the head of the sui juris Church in January, Thattil led the Shamshabad diocese in northern India, touted to be the largest diocese in India, spread over 22 Indian states.

As its head, Thattil visited the mission stations in remote villages with poor road connections.

A priest who worked with Thattil in northern India said Thattil's mission experience “will be an added asset” to the dicastery.

“He confronted people who opposed him with a smile,” the priest added.

The prelate, however, was unsuccessful in settling the liturgy row in Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, his seat of power.

The dispute stems from differences in the rubrics. While the official Church wants priests to turn to the altar during Eucharistic prayers, most priests in the archdiocese refused to accept this. They wanted to celebrate their traditional Mass, in which the priest faces the congregation throughout.

“Unfortunately, he [Thattil] has not found time to speak with his people in the archdiocese even after 10 months of assuming the office,” said Father Kuriakose Mundadan, secretary of the presbytery council of the troubled Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese

However, the priest welcomed the papal decision.

“We welcome the additional responsibility given to Thattail,” added Mundadan.

Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese is home to over 10 percent of the Syro-Malabar Church’s Catholics.

Thattil assumed the office after the Church's then-head, Cardinal George Alencherry, stepped down following his failure to settle the decades-old liturgy dispute.--ucanews.com