Jump to content

George Koovakad

From Catholicism Wiki
Mar
George Jacob Koovakad
ܡܵܪܝ ܓܝܼܘܲܪܓܝܼܣ ܝܲܥܩܘܿܒ݂ ܟܘܼܘܲܟܵܕ‎
Cardinal
Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
Koovakad in 2025
Koovakad in 2025
Church Syro-Malabar Church
Archdiocese Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery
Appointed 24 January 2025
Predecessor Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot
Other posts Head of the Journeys Office of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See (2021–)
Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia (2024–)
Previous posts Official of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See (2006–2021)
Titular Archbishop of Nisibis of the Chaldeans (2024)
Orders
Ordination 24 July 2004
by Mar Joseph Powathil
Consecration 24 November 2024
by Mar Raphael Thattil
Created cardinal 7 December 2024
by Pope Francis
Rank Cardinal-Deacon
Personal details
Born 11 August 1973
Chethipuzha, Kerala, India
Education SB College Changanasserry
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
Alma mater Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
Motto Fragantiam Christi caritatis effundere
(To pour out the fragrance of Christ's charity)
Ordination history
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained by
Joseph Powathil
Date
24 July 2004
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated by
Raphael Thattil
Date
24 November 2024[1]

George Jacob Koovakad (Syriac: ܡܵܪܝ ܓܝܼܘܲܪܓܝܼܣ ܝܲܥܩܘܿܒ݂ ܟܘܼܘܲܟܵܕ) (born 11 August 1973) is an Indian cardinal of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church who is prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue since 2025. Since 2020, he has worked in the offices of the Holy See's Secretariat of State in the Journeys Office, which was responsible for organizing Pope Francis' overseas trips, and has headed that office since 2021. From 2006 to 2020, he served assignments in several countries while working in the diplomatic service of the Holy See.

After Pope Francis announced his intentions to make Koovakad a cardinal on 6 October 2024, he received episcopal consecration on 24 November and was officially made a cardinal on 7 December.

Biography

George Koovakad was born in Chethipuzha, in the municipality of Changanacherry, Kottayam district, Kerala, on 11 August 1973.[2][3]

He earned his intermediate and bachelor's degrees in chemistry from SB College, Changanassery in 1994 where he was also the president of Catholic Students Movement in the college. He obtained a licentiate in 2004,[4] studying at St Thomas Minor Seminary, Kurichy, and St Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Aluva.[5] He was ordained a priest of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanacherry on 24 July 2004 by Archbishop Joseph Powathil.[3] He served for a term as assistant vicar of St Mary's Church, Parel, Changanacherry.[5]

Moving to Rome, he obtained a doctorate in canon law in 2006 from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross with a thesis on "The Obligation of Poverty for Secular Clerics in the Codes of Canon Law".[4]

After completing the preparatory program at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, he joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 2006. He worked in the nunciature in Algeria and then served as secretary of the nunciature in South Korea from 2009 to 2012 and in Iran from 2012 to 2014 and as counsellor of the nunciatures in Costa Rica from 2014 to 2018 and in Venezuela from 2018 to 2020.[2][6] On 1 October 2014 he was given the title Chaplain of His Holiness,[7] and on 13 December 2019 that of Prelate of Honor of His Holiness.[8]

In July 2020 he joined the staff of the Secretariat of State[9] and since 2021 has organized several papal trips, including visits to Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan, as well as a lengthy trip to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore.[6]

In 2024 he visited India to lead Holy Week services at his family's home parish, Lourde Matha Parish at Mammood in Changanacherry.[5]

On 6 October 2024, Pope Francis announced he intended to make Koovakad a cardinal on 8 December,[10] a date that was later changed to 7 December.[11] Fr. Antony Vadakkekara, spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, said: "It is a great honor for the Syro-Malabar Church as one of its sons is elevated as cardinal directly, which is first in India." Previously the only members of the Syro-Malabar Church named cardinals were Major Archbishops.[12]

Pope Francis appointed Koovakad titular archbishop of Nisibis of the Chaldeans on 25 October 2024,[13] and Koovakad received his episcopal consecration on 24 November 2024 in Changanassery Cathedral from Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil.[14]

On 7 December 2024, Pope Francis made him a cardinal, assigning him as a member of the order of cardinal deacons the deaconry of Sant'Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia.[15]

In place of the red biretta given to the new cardinals of the Latin rite, Francis placed a black and red shash on Koovakad's head. The shash is commonly used by other churches of East Syriac tradition, such as the Chaldean Catholic Church.[16]

On 11 January 2025, he was named a member of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.[17] On 24 January 2025, he was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.[18] He is the third prelate from India to head a Curial department, the first from the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.[19] He continues to serve as head of the Journeys Section of the Secretariat of State.[20]

Koovakad participated as an elector in the 2025 papal conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV in May 2025. As the most junior cardinal deacon, he was responsible for a variety of administrative functions, such as selecting by lot the cardinals responsible for counting the ballots and opening and closing the doors of the Sistine Chapel as necessary.[21]

See also

References

  1. Back to citation "Episcopal ordination of George Jacob Koovakad held". The Hindu. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  2. Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 "Kerala priest Monsignor George Koovakad elevated to Cardinal, oversees Pope Francis' global travels". Indian Express. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  3. Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 "CBCI congratulates Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad on his appointment as Cardinal". Asian News International. 7 October 2024. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  4. Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 "Alumnus George Koovakad (PhD in Canon Law, 2006) is among the new Cardinals announced by Pope Francis". Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  5. Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 Back to citation occurrence 5.2 Kavi, Jose (6 October 2024). "Indian Priest Among 21 New Cardinal-Elects". Matters India. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  6. Back to citation occurrence 6.0 Back to citation occurrence 6.1 Tornielli, Andrea (7 October 2024). "Cardinal-elect Koovakad is first serving organizer of papal visits to be created Cardinal". Vatican News. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  7. Back to citation Acta Apostolicae Sedis, v. CVII (2015), p. 231
  8. Back to citation Acta Apostolicae Sedis, v. CXII (2020), p. 114
  9. Back to citation He was working on papal trips when Pope Francis bade farewell to his predecessor and announced his role as "director" of travels while flying to Budapest on 21 September 2021. "Viaggio Apostolico di Sua Santità Francesco a Budapest..." (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  10. Back to citation "Annuncio di Concistoro l'8 dicembre per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali, 06.10.2024" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  11. Back to citation Brockhaus, Hannah (12 October 2024). "Vatican Shares Pope Francis' Schedule for December Consistory to Create Cardinals". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  12. Back to citation "New cardinal boosts global recognition of Indian Eastern-rite church". Herald Malaysia Online. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  13. Back to citation "Resignations and Appointments, 25.10.2024" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  14. Back to citation "Episcopal ordination of George Jacob Koovakad held". The Hindu. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  15. Back to citation "Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali, 07.12.2024" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  16. Back to citation Philippi, Dieter (6 March 2011). "Shash - Headgear of the Chaldean Catholic Clergy". Philippi Collection. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  17. Back to citation "Resignations and Appointments, 11.01.2025" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 11 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  18. Back to citation "Resignations and Appointments, 24.01.2025". Holy See Press Office. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  19. Back to citation Coppen, Luke (24 January 2025). "Syro-Malabar milestone as Cardinal Koovakad is named prefect". The Pillar. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  20. Back to citation Koovakad, George (24 January 2025). "Cardinal Koovakad: Interreligious dialogue can build peace". Vatican News (Interview). Interviewed by Andrea Tornielli. Retrieved 26 January 2025. “Cardinal Koovakad will retain his current role as organizer of papal visits.”
  21. Back to citation "India's Cardinal Koovakad Plays Key Role Ensuring Secrecy, Validity of Conclave Voting". NCR. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Karl-Josef Rauber 		Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia
7 December 2024 – present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot 		Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
25 January 2025 – present
Retrieved from "https://catholicism.wiki/index.php?title=George_Koovakad&oldid=79344"