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Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil passes away
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil
passed awayat Lisie hospital in Ernakulam today, 1 April 2011. He was 84.
He is the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly
and head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
He is also a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R., Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly for Syro-Malabars (India), was born on 29 May 1927 in Parur, India. He was ordained priest for the Redemptorists on 12 June 1954 and holds a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome.
For 25 years he taught canon law at the Redemptorists' major seminary in Bangalore. He also served as Provincial for India and Sri Lanka (1978-84), President of the Conference of Religious, India (1984-85) and Apostolic Administrator of the Asirvanam Benedictine Monastery in Bangalore (1990-96).
On 11 November 1996 he was appointed Archbishop and Apostolic Administrator of the vacant see of Ernakulam-Angamaly for Syro-Malabars, receiving episcopal ordination from the Holy Father on 6 January 1997.
On 18 December 1999 he was appointed Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly for Syro-Malabars. Pope John Paul II nominated Varkey Vithayathil a member of the college of cardinals on 21 January 2001 and raised him to that dignity at the consistory on 21 February. His sacerdotal golden jubilee was celebrated under the auspices of the Syro-Malabar church on 8 November 2003. He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 Papa conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. In February 2008 he was elected President of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India (CBCI). He was also the President of the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church.
For 25 years he taught canon law at the Redemptorists' major seminary in Bangalore. He also served as Provincial for India and Sri Lanka (1978-84), President of the Conference of Religious, India (1984-85) and Apostolic Administrator of the Asirvanam Benedictine Monastery in Bangalore (1990-96).
On 11 November 1996 he was appointed Archbishop and Apostolic Administrator of the vacant see of Ernakulam-Angamaly for Syro-Malabars, receiving episcopal ordination from the Holy Father on 6 January 1997.
On 18 December 1999 he was appointed Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly for Syro-Malabars. Pope John Paul II nominated Varkey Vithayathil a member of the college of cardinals on 21 January 2001 and raised him to that dignity at the consistory on 21 February. His sacerdotal golden jubilee was celebrated under the auspices of the Syro-Malabar church on 8 November 2003. He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 Papa conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. In February 2008 he was elected President of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India (CBCI). He was also the President of the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church.
On April 1, 2011, Mar Vithayathil died due to prolonged heart problems at Lisie Hospital in Ernakulam.
Let us express our messages of condolence here.
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