Pope's Visit to India Delayed Until After 2025: Union Minister George Kurian

Vatican City/Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 7 (NationPress) On Saturday, Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian revealed that the highly anticipated visit of the Pope to India is scheduled to take place only after 2025.

Kurian, who is currently leading the Union government's delegation to observe the ordination of Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad as a cardinal at a ceremony in Vatican City, stated that the Papal visit will not happen before 2025.

He mentioned, “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially invited the Pope to visit India. However, we have received information that the Pope will be occupied throughout 2025 due to jubilee celebrations and will have limited travel outside the Vatican. Therefore, his visit to India will occur only after that,”

The Indian delegation attending this significant event includes former Minister of State (MoS) Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh, Rajya Sabha MP Satam Singh Sandhu, and BJP leaders Anil Antony, Anoop Antony, and Tom Vadakkan.

Historically, in 1986, the then Pope John Paul II visited Kerala for two days to beatify Sister Alphonsa and Sister Kuriakose Elias Chavara. During this visit, he stayed in Kochi and traveled to Thrissur, Kottayam, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Currently, a significant number of individuals from Kerala have arrived at the Vatican to witness Koovakad's elevation to the esteemed position of cardinal.

Koovakad's sister, Ditty Jacob, expressed, “We are thrilled as we are receiving numerous calls. We wished to attend but couldn't due to our children’s education. Our family members have all reached the Vatican. God created the opportunity for his elevation. He used to visit us once a year.”

At 51, Koovakad is affiliated with the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Changanacherry and will be the sixth individual from Kerala to attain the rank of cardinal.

On Saturday morning, a special prayer session took place at his parish home near Kottayam, and attendees left with joy.

A group of attendees stated, “We have known him for a long time as he was among us. Now we are excited that he has attained this prestigious position.”

Currently based in the Vatican, Koovakad is responsible for organizing Pope Francis' international travel itinerary.

Born on August 11, 1973, in the state capital, Koovakad was ordained as a priest on July 24 and later pursued diplomatic training at the renowned Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

His diplomatic career commenced in 2006 at the Apostolic Nunciature in Algeria, where he has also served in multiple Apostolic Nunciatures across South Korea, Iran, Costa Rica, and Venezuela.

In Kerala, Christians constitute approximately 18% of the state's 32 million population, with Catholics making up 50% of the Christian demographic. The state features three Catholic rites: the Syro-Malabar, Latin, and Syro Malankara Churches.