Raphael Thattil is the new major archbishop of the Syro-Malabars
The 67-year-old Bishop of Shamshabad was elected yesterday by the local Synod in Kochi and confirmed by Pope Francis. In his first words to the faithful, he said that “we should stand together and work together.” The Eastern rite community of six million members has been shaken in recent years by a major row over the liturgy centred in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly.
Kochi (AsiaNews) – The Syro-Malabar Church elected its new major archbishop. Bishop Raphael Thattil of Shamshabad, 67, will take the place of Card George Alencherry, whose resignation was accepted by Pope Francis last 7 December. The election took place yesterday afternoon at the Church’s headquarters in Kakkanad (Kerala).
With almost six million members around the world, this ancient Indian Church of the Eastern Rite has been seriously torn in recent years over the liturgy after the clergy in the large Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly rejected the "unified rite" adopted by the local synod in 2021.
As provided by the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Pope Francis confirmed the election of Bishop Thattil, who thus becomes the fifth major archbishop in the history of the Syro-Malabars.
In his letter of confirmation, the pontiff urges the new archbishop, “especially to remember the poor and those most in need. May the Holy Spirit foster the unity, fidelity and mission of the Syro-Malabar Church, so that it may grow and flourish under your paternal guidance.”
The new major archbishop of the Syro-Malabars hails from Trichur, where he was born in 1956, and has been a priest since 1980.
After his ordination, he studied theology and canon law in Rome at the Pontifical Oriental Institute before returning to his diocese where he was the first director of the catechetical office and then rector of the major seminary.
He was elected in 2010 as auxiliary bishop of Trichur, becoming the first bishop of the Diocese of Shamshabad in 2017, a position he still holds.
In his first message to the Syro-Malabar Church, Mar Raphael Thattil urged the community to stand and work together. He wants to be for everyone. “If there is any deficiency, it will be resolved,” Mar Raphael Thattil said.
In taking on this role, he said that he wants to be inspired by Jesus's compassion for the multitudes, as narrated in the Gospel passage about the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.
This will depend on God’s guidance and cooperation from bishops, priests and laity to carry out his responsibilities. “Jesus is the head of the Church and all others are parts of the body,” he added.
The election of the new major archbishop was also eagerly awaited in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, the main scene of the row over the liturgy.
“We hope Raphael Thattil will find an amicable solution to the liturgical crisis as well as other controversies plaguing the church,” said Fr Paul Chittinappilly, a senior member of the Council of Priests, speaking to AsiaNews.
“We hope he will keep to his personality of keeping good relations with everyone. He is not fanatic about traditionalists or traditionalism."
Indeed, “He can probably work better with the Permanent Synod members who are the archbishops of the Church. He has very good relationship with our archdiocese. Many of our priests are his friends and admirers! So, he is in a better position to find a solution to the crisis.”
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