Cardinal Sebastian Francis, special representative of Pope Leo XIV and bishop of Penang, Malaysia, officially proclaims Mother Eliswa as blessed at the Vallarpadam Basilica in Kochi on Saturday.
When European missionaries were active in evangelisation in Varappuzha and its suburbs in the 17th century, Koonammavu became a hub of Roman Catholicism.
Speaking to TNIE, Cardinal Sebastian Francis of the Diocese of Penang termed his visit to the home state of his parents as a pilgrimage that is both enriching as well as nostalgic.
Reacting to the remarks, the BJP workers staged a massive protest at many places, including the state capital Lucknow, Balrampur, and other districts on Sunday.
