Kochi (CBCI News)

Major Archbishop George Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar church has been raised as a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI. The appointment of Mar Alencherry as the Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI was announced at Vatican and at Syro-Malabar Church headquarters, Mount St Thomas, at the same time on January 6. The investiture will take place in Rome on February 18.

Mar Alencherry was appointed the bishop of the diocese of Thuckalay, when the diocese was established in November 1996. In May 2011, he was elected sucessor of Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil. He is the first Major Archbishop to be elected by the Synod after the Syro-Malabar Church was elevated to the status of Major Archiepiscopal Church.

Mar Alencherry is the tenth Indian to be elevated as Cardinal. He is the fourth in the line of Cardinals in the Syro-Malabar Church after Cardinal Joseph Parecattil, Cardinal Antony Padiyara, and Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil. On his elevation as Cardinal, Alencherry has become one of the three Indian prelates who have voting right in the Pope’s election.