(September 05, 2011) Political and Church leaders in Kerala have mourned the death
of retired Bishop Peter Thuruthikonam of Vijayapuram early Monday morning. He was
82. The prelate was admitted to a hospital because of cardiovascular problem, according
to Fr. Stephen Alathara, secretary of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council. Bishop
Thuruthikonam was the head of Vijayapuram Latin rite diocese for 18 years before his
retirement in 2006. Major Archbishop George Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar
Church, in his condolence message, said the deceased prelate was “a role model and
visionary” who taught fellow bishops to care for the poor and the marginalized. Kerala
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, an Orthodox Christian, said Bishop Thuruthikonam had
always tried to help the poor irrespective of their religion. Chandy hails from Kottayam,
a Christian majority town where Vijayapuram diocese is based. Its members are mostly
plantation workers spread in Kerala’s hilly central region. Bishop Thuruthikonam
was ordained a priest in 1959. His funeral will be decided later, the diocesan sources
said.