Message from Cardinal Koch to Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III

On the occasion of the ordination of seven new bishops of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, sent a message of congratulations to His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, new Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

The Cardinal's letter was forwarded by Reverend Father Hyacinthe Destivelle, official responsible for relations with the Oriental Orthodox Churches, who represented the Dicastery at the ordinations celebrated on 28 July at Pazhanji Cathedral in Kunnamkulam, Kerala.

Father Destivelle was received in audience on 27 July by His Holiness the Catholicos, as well as by the seven new Metropolitans, to whom he gave gifts on behalf of Cardinal Koch.

The visit was also an opportunity to prepare for the resumption of the work of the Joint Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, interrupted since 2019 due to the pandemic, scheduled to resume in December 2022.

^{(Photo: Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III with Reverend Father Hyacinthe Destivelle)}