(April 05, 2011) Meanwhile,in southern India’s Kerala State, thousands from numerous
religious backgrounds continue to pay their respects to Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil,
head of the Syro-Malabar Church. Condolence meetings were held in all Kerala parishes
on Monday. The Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala has announced 10 days of official mourning
for the prelate. Bishop Bosco Puthur, who has taken over as administrator of the
Oriental Catholic Church said the funeral will be held on April 10 in Kochi. Churches
belonging to the Latin and Syro-Malankara Catholic rites in Kerala, also flew black
flags and postponed celebrations as a mark of respect for the cardinal. Long queues
of people gathered outside Little Flower Hospital in Angamaly, where the cardinal’s
body lies. His remains will go to St George’s Basilica in Angamaly on April 9 and
then be taken to the headquarters of Syro-Malabar Church near Kochi. Thousands of
people flocked to Lisie Hospital after local television announced the cardinal’s death.
The Marxist Communist Party of India general secretary Prakash Karat, was among the
first high-profile figures to reach the hospital. Syro-Malabar Church spokesperson
Fr. Paul Thelakat said ordinary poor people outnumbered priests and nuns among the
mourners. “The crowd that came to the hospital shows the cardinal’s popularity among
ordinary people,” the priest added.