Priyanka Gandhi Applauds New Cardinal of India

New Delhi, Dec 9 (NationPress) Wayanad MP and AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday expressed her congratulations to George Jacob Koovakad, a 51-year-old Catholic priest, for being elevated to the distinguished position of Cardinal by His Holiness Pope Francis on Saturday.

“This is a proud moment for India and signifies your unwavering commitment to the Church and humanity,” Priyanka stated on her social media account.

Koovakad, affiliated with the Syro Malabar Catholic Church and originating from Changnacherry in Kottayam district, made history as the first priest from Kerala to be directly promoted to a Cardinal.

In contrast, the other five Cardinals from Kerala were previously bishops before achieving this esteemed rank within the Catholic Church.

As of Saturday, the total number of Cardinals in the global Catholic Church has risen to 253, following Koovakad's elevation alongside 20 other candidates.

This elevation was commemorated modestly in Catholic churches across Kerala, particularly in his home parish of Changnacherry.

These Cardinals will convene to elect the next Pope when the occasion arises.

Born on August 11, 1973, in the state capital, Koovakad became a priest and subsequently trained for diplomatic service at the esteemed Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

His diplomatic career commenced in 2006 at the Apostolic Nunciature in Algeria, and he has since served in Apostolic Nunciatures in countries such as South Korea, Iran, Costa Rica, and Venezuela.

In Kerala, Christians constitute roughly 18 percent of the state's population of 32 million, with Catholics being the predominant group, making up 50 percent of Christians in the region.

Kerala is home to three Catholic rites: the Syro-Malabar, Latin, and Syro Malankara Churches.

The last Keralaite elevated to Cardinal status was Mar Baselios Cleemis, the supreme head of the Syro Malankara Church, in 2013.