Pope reacts: Resignation in a controversial diocese causes excitement!

Pope reacts: Resignation in a controversial diocese causes excitement!

Ernakulam-Angamaly, Indien - The Vatican has accepted the resignation of the interim administrator of the Catholic diocese of Ernakulam-Angamal in southern India. Pope Francis announced this decision on Saturday. The 78-year-old Bosco Puthur, who previously worked as an apostolic administrator, was appointed at the end of 2023 to help with the disputes that had been smoldering for years. But in view of the numerous protests that were required by thousands of believers in Kochi, he now had to make room. These protests were particularly directed against Puthur's strict guidelines for the celebration of the Eucharist, which should only take place according to a reformed liturgy, such as kathpress.at reported.

new archbishop is appointed

The synodal assembly of the Syrro-Malabar Church chose Joseph Pampplany, the Archbishop of Tellicherry, as the successor to Puthur. As part of his new role, Pampplany will provide support for the great bishop Raphael Thattil, who was introduced into his position as head of the entire Syrro-Malabar church a year ago. The relationship dispute over the celebration of the "Holy Qurbana", which deals with the alignment of the priest during the Eucharist, has long been unrest. The conflict has been accompanied by violent protests, which illustrates the urgency of this change of personnel, while the synod of the 54 bishops is looking for solutions, such as katholisch.de reported.

Among the measures to eliminate the tensions in the diocese, the synods rejected a plan of opponents of the liturgical forms, which provided for the establishment of its own church. Since the Situation remains tense, the financial boycott was threatened by protest communities against the archbishopric if no agreement can be reached. The Syrro-Malabar Church counts around five million believers worldwide and represents the larger of the two Eastern Church in India connected to the Pope.