Bishop Koovakad’s episcopal ordination took place at St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Basilica in Changanacherry, Kerala. The organizer of the Pope’s apostolic trips will be named cardinal on December 7.
Vatican News
Changanacherry, Monday, November 25, 2024: Cardinal-designate Monsignor George Jacob Kouvakaud, titular archbishop of Chaldea Nisibis and organizer of the Holy Father’s apostolic visits, received his episcopal consecration on Sunday, November 24. The celebration took place at the Syro-Malabar Basilica of St. Mary in Changanacherry, Indian state of Kerala.
Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar, Mar Raphael Thatil, presided over the ritual. The co-consecrators were Mar Thomas Tharayil, Archbishop of Changanacherry, and Bishop Edgar Peña Parra, Liaison for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. Cardinal Clemis Basilios, leader of the Syro-Malankas, delivered the sermon. Some colleagues from the Secretariat of State, which organizes the Pope’s visits, were also present.
At the end of the ceremony, Bishop Peña Parra, on behalf of Cardinal Pietro Parolin and all the friends of the Secretariat of State, expressed his joy and spiritual closeness to Bishop Cuovkad for this happy occasion, remembering that for almost twenty years he had sincerely served the Holy See. First in various Apostolic Embassies around the world and then, starting in 2021, in the Secretariat of State as organizer of the Apostolic Visits of the Holy Father.
Monsignor Peña recalled that on December 7, Monsignor Kouvakad will be created cardinal by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica, which represents “a clear recognition of the faith and goodness of the entire Church in India.”
Archbishop Koovakad was born on August 11, 1973 in Chethipuzha (India). He was ordained a priest on July 24, 2004 in Changanacherry. Graduate in Canon Law, he joined the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on July 1, 2006. He has worked in the General Affairs Section of the Secretariat in Algeria, Korea, Iran and Costa Rica since July 10, 2020. As mentioned, in 2021 Pope Francis has entrusted him with the task of organizing the Papal Apostolic Visits.
