(April 11, 2011) Thousands of faithful on Sunday paid their last respects to Indian
Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, the head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, as his
body was laid to rest with full state honours at St Mary's Cathedral in Ernakulam,
Kerala state. The 83-year old Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly died of cardiac
arrest on April 1 in a private hospital in Ernakulam. Bishop Bosco Puthur, administrator
of the Syro-Malabar Church performed the last rites of the late cardinal, which was
attended by about 70 bishops and over 1,000 priests. Archbishop Cyril Vasil, Vatican
delegate and secretary of Congregation for Oriental Churches represented Pope Benedict
XVI at the funeral. Various government, civil and church dignitaries spoke at the
condolence meeting held in the church. A message from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh was read out during the meet. “In the passing away of Cardinal Vithayathil,
the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and the entire Catholic Church in India lost a deeply
committed and ever courageous spiritual leader,” said the Catholic Bishops Conference
of India.