Vatican City: The Vatican will host the ordination of 21 new cardinals today, including Archbishop Mar George Koovakad of Changanassery. A large delegation of Malayalis, alongside representatives from India’s central government, has traveled to witness this significant moment and extend their congratulations to the newly appointed cardinal. Mar Koovakad’s family, parents, and many faithful from his home diocese and native region have also gathered in the Vatican for this special occasion.
The ordination Mass, presided over by Pope Francis, will take place at 4:00 p.m. Vatican time (8:30 p.m. Indian time) in St. Peter’s Basilica. The ceremony will see the presence of prominent clergy, including Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Archbishop Mar Thomas Tharayil, Archbishop Mar Joseph Perunthottam, Mar Thomas Padiyath, and Mar Stephen Chirappanath, alongside a host of other bishops and archbishops. The event will be streamed live via the Vatican Media YouTube channel.
Following the Consistory Mass, the newly elevated cardinals will have a formal meeting with Pope Francis. On the following day, at 9:30 a.m. Vatican time, the new cardinals, accompanied by priests from the Syro-Malabar Church, will co-celebrate a Holy Mass with the Pope as part of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Later in the evening, a Malayalam thanksgiving Mass, led by Mar George Koovakad, will be held at the Syro-Malabar Basilica of Santa Anastasia, followed by a reception.
Born on August 11, 1973, in Chethippuzha parish under the Changanassery Archdiocese, Mar Koovakkatt was ordained a priest in 2004. He pursued higher education before joining the Vatican’s diplomatic service, where he held positions in delegations across Algeria, South Korea, Iran, and Costa Rica. Since 2021, he has been instrumental as the chief organizer of Pope Francis’ apostolic journeys abroad.
With his elevation, Mar Koovakad joins an esteemed lineage of Malayali cardinals, alongside Cardinal George Alencherry and Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, marking another milestone for the Syro-Malabar Church and the global Catholic community.