India’s Syro-Malabar Church reshuffles leadership amid liturgical row

The Vatican on Jan. 10, 2024, announced the confirmation of the election of a new head of the Syro-Malabar Church, the largest Eastern Catholic church in India, Bishop Raphael Thattil. / Credit: Jpullokaran, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

CNA Newsroom, Jan 11, 2025 / 20:05 pm (CNA).

The Syro-Malabar Church announced a significant leadership change on Saturday as Archbishop Joseph Pamplany was appointed vicar of the major archbishop for the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. 

With more than 5 million members globally, the Syro-Malabar Church is one of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome. Based primarily in the southern Indian state of Kerala, it is the second-largest Eastern Catholic Church globally after the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. 

The appointment, confirmed by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil on Jan. 11, follows the First Session of the XXXIII Synod of Bishops held at Mount St. Thomas in Kakkanad from January 6-11. 

At the same time, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Mar Bosco Puthur, who had served as apostolic administrator since December 2023. Citing health concerns, he had initially submitted his resignation in September 2024, having served less than a year after his December 2023 appointment.

The leadership transition occurs as the Eastern Catholic Church continues to navigate a complex dispute over liturgical reforms, particularly regarding the celebration of Mass. The controversy centers on whether priests should face the altar or the congregation during the Holy Qurbana, the church’s Eucharistic liturgy.

The church maintains its own distinct liturgical tradition, known as the Holy Qurbana, and enjoys autonomy in administrative and liturgical matters while recognizing the pope’s authority. 

Archbishop Pamplany, who will maintain his role as Metropolitan Archbishop of Tellicherry, brings extensive theological expertise to his new position. Ordained in 1997, he holds a doctorate in Sacred Scripture from Leuven University and has served in various church leadership roles, including as Secretary of the Synod.

The appointment follows Pope Francis’s repeated interventions in the liturgical dispute. He has directly intervened several times in the controversy, which centers on a debate about which direction the priest should face when celebrating the liturgy.

Protests against the adoption of a uniform liturgy have included a hunger strike by priests and the burning of effigies of cardinals.

In May 2024, the pontiff described divisions within the church as “the work of the devil” and urged maintaining unity. In 2023, he appointed Slovak Archbishop-Bishop Cyril Vasil’ as a special delegate to help resolve the ongoing disagreement.

Archbishop Vasil’ will continue serving as the pontifical delegate for the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, which serves over 600,000 faithful within the Syro-Malabar Church.