(May 28, 2007) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday received the new head of the India-based
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and encouraged him to continue on the path of fidelity
to the Pope and the traditions of the Syro_Malankara Church. Major Archbishop
Baselios Mar Cleemis of Trivandrum, in Kerala state, whom the Pope met, was elected
head of the eastern-rite Syro Malankara Church on Feb. 8 by the Church’s synod, a
decision the Pope acknowledged two days later. He succeeded late Major Archbishop
Cyril Mar Baselios who passed away on Jan. 18. In his meeting with Major Archbishop
Cleemis, Pope Benedict recalled how late Mar Ivannios together with his Syro-Malankara
faithful formally entered the Roman Catholic Church in 1930. In Feb. 2005, Pope John
Paul granted the Church the highest level of self-government by raising it to the
rank of a Major Archbishopric. Pope Benedict said today the Catholic Church senses
the closeness of the unforgettable Pastors of the Syro-Malankara Church and wished
the community will continue being faithful to the Apostolic See as well as to the
Eastern features of its tradition. The Pope spoke of the Church’s commitment to evangelization
which he said needs to be constantly renewed, "as we strive to build peace, in justice
and solidarity, for the whole human family." Pope Benedict particularly wished the
Syro-Malankara faithful on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the
establishment of their hierarchy. India’s Catholic Church, that recognizes the
Pope of Rome as its head, is composed of the Latin Rite and the two eastern rites
– the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches. Of the country’s 159 ecclesiastical
units, 128 belong to the Latin Rite, 25 to the Syro-Malabar and 6 to the Syro-Malankara
churches.