By AC Wimmer
CNA Newsroom, Jan 11, 2025 / 20:05 pm
The Syro-Malabar Church made a significant leadership announcement on Saturday with the appointment of Archbishop Joseph Pamplany as the vicar of the major archbishop for the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly.
With a global membership exceeding 5 million, the Syro-Malabar Church is among the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome. Primarily based in Kerala, India, it ranks as the second-largest Eastern Catholic Church worldwide after the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
The appointment, endorsed by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil on Jan. 11, came after the First Session of the XXXIII Synod of Bishops convened at Mount St. Thomas in Kakkanad from January 6-11.
Simultaneously, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Mar Bosco Puthur, who had served as apostolic administrator since December 2023. Citing health issues, Bishop Puthur submitted his resignation in September 2024, less than a year after his appointment.
The leadership transition unfolds amidst a complex dispute within the Eastern Catholic Church, particularly concerning liturgical reforms like the orientation during Mass. The debate revolves around whether priests should face the altar or the congregation during the Holy Qurbana, the church’s Eucharistic liturgy.
The Syro-Malabar Church upholds its distinctive liturgical tradition known as the Holy Qurbana, maintaining autonomy in administrative and liturgical affairs while acknowledging the pope’s authority.
Archbishop Pamplany, also serving as Metropolitan Archbishop of Tellicherry, brings profound theological knowledge to his new role. Ordained in 1997, he holds a doctorate in Sacred Scripture from Leuven University and has held various church leadership positions, including Secretary of the Synod.
This appointment follows Pope Francis’s active involvement in addressing the liturgical dispute.
