The much-awaited anointment of Archbishop-Catholicos Mar Baselios Cleemis as the first Cardinal of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church will be held at Vatican on Saturday. He will be consecrated as Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI at St Mary’s Basilica at 3.30 pm.
Faithful of the Church and well-wishers of the popular church leader are buoyed with reverence and love for Mar Cleemis on the occasion of his ascension in the church hierarchy and entitlement to have a say in the selection of Pope in the years to come. He is the second Cardinal, the senior being Mar George Alencherry, from the state to be seated along with the Pope.
That he is also creating history through a rare opportunity which has come in the way of the Malankara Catholic Church, a relatively small but powerful and resourceful denomination within the church fold in the state, that too at a young age of 53, is of great significance.
No official ceremonies have been organised to coincide with the installation ceremony at Vatican. Mar Cleemis will be returning to the state on November 30, in his capacity as the Cardinal. A thanks-giving Mass will be celebrated by the Cardinal at the St Mary’s Cathedral at Pattom here on next Sunday. A public reception will be held here on December 10.
An official delegation led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien and comprising Union Minister K C Venugopal, MPs Jose K Mani and E T Mohammed Basheer has left for Vatican to represent the country in the consecration ceremonies. A delegation of multi-religious, political and social groups, in which city Mayor K Chandrika is also a member, has also reached Rome.