THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, on Monday stressed the importance of the need for unity in the Christian Church.
In his spiritual message delivered at the St Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, here, Cardinal Sandri lauded the efforts of former heads of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church like Mar Ivanios who had taken the initiative to join in communion with Vatican.
``Mar Ivanios, a prophetic voice, embraced the responsibility to undertake the biblical mandate,’’ he said, referring to the establishment of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in Communion with Vatican in 1930.
Cardinal Sandri, an emissary of Pope Benedict XVI, also announced the elevation of St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Palayam, the first Church of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, to a Basilica.
The Basilica will be known as the St Mary Queen of Peace Basilica, Thiruvananthapuram, he said reading out the Papal Decree. The Basilica is also the fourth under the Catholic umbrella in Kerala.
The faithful had assembled at the St Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, in their thousands to receive the Cardinal. Catholicos Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, received the Cardinal with the bishops of the church.
Sandri read out the spiritual message after a Holy Mass led by Baselios Cleemis. He also blessed the foundation stone for a church in the Moovattupuzha diocese.
Bishops of the church, priests and nuns and thousands of faithful had assembled at the Cathedral to receive the Cardinal.
Bishops Thomas Mar Koorilos, Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Yoohannon Mar Chrysostom, Joshua Mar Ignathios, Abraham Mar Julios, Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, Joseph Mar Thomas and Jacob Mar Barnabas were present.
In the evening, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri also visited the newly-elevated Basilica at Palayam.
