Cardinal Alencherry consoles slain fishermen’s families

(March 05, 2012) India’s new cardinal, George Alencherry, head of the eastern rite Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, has said he shared the grief of families of Indian fishermen gunned down by Italian mariners off the coast of Kerala state last month. The prelate, who became a cardinal on February 18, arrived at the Kochi International Airport on Saturday amid high security after some groups wanted to welcome the Church leader with black flags to protest his alleged statements to Fides news agency in which he was reported to have taken a pro-Italy stand. The cardinal, who is Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, told reporters at the airport that he did not want to prolong the controversy further as the news agency had withdrawn the erroneous report. He said he regretted the pain the report has caused and that he shared the grief of the bereaved families. Two mariners guarding the Italian vessel Enrica Lexie shot dead two fishermen on February 15 allegedly mistaking them for pirates. The Italians are now in police custody in Kerala.