In the community at the center of the bitter confrontation over liturgy that has divided this Eastern-rite Catholic Church for years, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the apostolic administrator he had appointed and the appointment of a new vicar, archbishop Pamplany. For his part, the new Cardinal Koovakkad pointed out the primacy of charity to his brother Syro-Malabar bishops at the Synod.
Kochi () – The Indian archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, at the center of the conflict that has divided the Syro-Malabar Church over the issue of liturgy for several years, has a new pastor. At the end of a session of the Synod of Bishops of this ancient Eastern Rite Catholic Church deeply rooted in the State of Kerala, Senior Archbishop Raphael Thattil – who as such is the Metropolitan of Ernakulam-Angamaly – appointed as its vicar for this archeparchy to Archbishop Joseph Pamplany, who was already serving as Archbishop of Tellicherry. This decision, made by the Synod, was confirmed by Pope Francis, who accepted the resignation of Bishop Bosco Puthur, who a little over a year ago had been appointed by the pontiff apostolic administrator of this Syro-Malabar community whose clergy opposes firmly to the “unified rite” of the Eucharistic celebration adopted by the other dioceses in 2021. Bosco Puthur, strongly questioned by the local clergy in recent months, had returned his mandate to the Pope in September for health reasons.
With the acceptance of the resignation of the apostolic administrator, therefore, the government of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly has been entrusted once again to the major archbishop who – just as did his predecessor, Card. George Alencherry, with Archbishop Antony Kariyil – has appointed a vicar for the pastoral guidance of this community. At the same time, however, Slovak Archbishop Cyril Vasil will continue to perform his duties as pontifical delegate for the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly.
Born in 1969, Monsignor Joseph Pamplany was ordained a priest in 1997. He continued his higher studies in Holy Scripture and obtained a doctorate from the University of Leuven. On 1 September 2017 he was elected Auxiliary Bishop of Tellicherry and consecrated on 8 November 2017. He was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Tellicherry on 22 April 2022. Archbishop Pamplany is currently Secretary of the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church and a member of his permanent council.
Now he will have the mission of healing the wound that has long shaken the Syro-Malabar Church, repeatedly called by Francis to recover unity in charity. And in this sense the intervention at the Synod – which took place these days with the participation of the 54 bishops who carry out their ministry in India and throughout the world – the intervention of Card. George Koovakkad, the priest from this Eastern rite Church, a close collaborator of the pontiff in the organization of his trips, whom the Pope decided to include among the new cardinals created in the recent December consistory.
In his speech before his brother Syro-Malabar bishops, the cardinal stressed that the Church cannot advance if it is not willing to listen to the voice of those who have no voice, if it does not become close to embrace the marginalized and if it does not recognize the voices of those who are isolated. He recalled Pope Francis’ invitation to heal wounds in a “field hospital” Church.
Koovakkad suggested strengthening cooperation between dioceses and generously helping students with their education expenses, as well as expanding study and work opportunities to promote the Church’s commitment to children and families. Finally, he also invited the Syro-Malabar community to enter the Jubilee Year as pilgrims of hope, guided by the Christian hope that never disappoints.
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