SYRO-MALABAR
CHURCH

About

Cardinal Mar George Alencherry was born on 19th April 1945 at Thuruthy in the Archeparchy of Changanacherry as the sixth child of the ten children of Mr. Philipose and Mary Alencherry. Geevarghese is his baptismal name. He had his primary schooling at St. Mary’s School, Thuruthy and secondary education at St Berchmans’ High School, Changanacherry.

He began his priestly formation in 1961 at the archeparchial minor seminary at Parel, Changanacherry. While he pursued his studies in the minor seminary, he obtained his graduation in Economics from the University of Kerala. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at St Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva. He was ordained a priest on 18th December 1972 at St. Mary’s Church, Thuruthy, by Archbishop Antony Padiyara, the then archbishop of Changanacherry. Later, Fr. George Alencherry continued his higher studies at the same Institute and obtained his master’s degree in Theology.

During his higher studies at Aluva, Fr. Alencherry served also as pro-vicar of Periyarmugham parish in the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. He was, later, appointed assistant vicar at the Cathedral church of Changanacherry and Director of the Department Archeparchial Faith Formation. For three years he served as the Secretary of the Commission for Catechism of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC). After his tenure in KCBC he was sent to Paris for higher studies. There he pursued his studies at Catholic Institute and Sorbonne University from where he obtained his Higher Diploma in Biblical Studies (DSEB) and Doctorate in Biblical Theology.

On returning to India in 1986, Fr. George Alencherry served a short period as Secretary to Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil and then he was appointed Director of the Pastoral Orientation Centre (POC) at Palarivattom and Deputy Secretary of KCBC. He served the Church in Kerala in that capacity until 1993. He was also professor at St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor until 1997. In 1994, he was appointed the Protosyncellus of the Archeparchy of Changanacherry.

When Pope John Paul II established the Eparchy of Thuckalay on 11th November 1996 Fr. George Alencherry was appointed its first Bishop. He was ordained Bishop on 2nd February 1997 at Thuckalay by Mar Joseph Powathil.

As a Bishop, Mar George Alencherry served the Syro-Malabar Church in his capacity as the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops and Chairman of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Catechism. He has also served as Chairman of the Commission for Laity of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and the President of Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KCBC).

On 26th May 2011, the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Synod elected Mar George Alencherry as Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, thus becoming the Father and Head of nearly five million Syro-Malabar faithful around the globe. His enthronement as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church took place at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam on 29th May 2011. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI nominated Mar George Alencherry a member of the College of Cardinals on 6th January 2012. At the consistory on 18th February 2012 he was raised to the dignity of a Cardinal. Cardinal Alencherry is proficient in Malayalam, Tamil, English and French.

Cardinal Mar George Alencherry is a Nominated Member of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches and a Nominated Member of International Council for Catechesis. He was a Nominated Member of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for the Promotion of the Unity of Christians for two consecutive terms. His Beatitude participated in the Conclave (2013) which elected Pope Francis.

Being the first elected Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, Cardinal Mar George Alencherry is giving a charismatic leadership. After his assumption of Office of the Major Archbishop, many eparchies were created in India and abroad. In 2017, Pope Francis granted the all India pastoral jurisdiction to the Syro-Malabar Church, thus extending the proper territory of the Church to the whole of India. The Syro- Malabar Church is now spread around the globe with five million faithful in 35 Eparchies (31 in India and 4 outside India) and the Apostolic Visitation in Europe.

Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, the third Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church, resigned from the Office of Major Archbishop. The Holy Father Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Mar Alencherry, who submitted it to the Holy Father communicating his intention to be relieved from the Office of the Major Archbishop, after carefully considering the increasing pastoral demands in the Church and his health condition. Earlier in 2019, Cardinal Mar George Alencherry had submitted his resignation to the Holy Father. The Holy Father, after seeking the mind of the Synod, did not accept the resignation, as the Synod was not in favour of accepting the resignation. Cardinal Mar George Alencherry submitted his resignation again on November 15, 2022 expressing his desire to be relieved from the Office of the Major Archbishop. Now he has resigned from the Office to be effective from December 7, 2023, with the approval of the Holy Father.