Kochi: Vatican has decided to remove Mar Anthony Kariyil from the administrative leadership of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly and appoint a new administrator in his place.

A papal bull is expected to be issued in this regard by the Nuncio on behalf of the Pope. The Apostolic Nuncio to India, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, arrived at the Bishop's House this morning and is scheduled to hold detailed discussions with Mar Antony Kariyil. There are also reports that the dissident priests are planning to meet him to register their protest.

Canonical proceedings are taken against Mar Kariyil because he has rejected repeated instructions from the Pope, the Oriental Congregation and the Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops.

The faithful are anxiously waiting to know whether the new apostolic administrator who will take the charge will be from Ernakulam Angamaly Archdiocese or a bishop from outside the diocese. The faith community is hopeful that there will be a solution to the sacramental unification controversy and related issues faced by the Syro-Malabar Church.

The leadership of the church believes that the majority of the faithful will not act against the decision of the Vatican, even though there is a difference of opinion against this decision led by a few dissident priests.