# Varkey Vithayathil

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Head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church from 1999 to 2011

Varkey Vithayathil ܡܪ ܘܪܟܝ ܘܝܬܝܐܬܝܠ Major Archbishop Cardinal Diocese Ernakulam-Angamaly See Ernakulam-Angamaly Predecessor Antony Padiyara Successor George Alencherry Other posts Apostolic Administrator of the Benedictine Monastery in Bangalore (1990–1996) Cardinal-Priest of S. Bernardo alle Terme Orders Ordination 12 June 1954 Consecration 17 January 1997 Created cardinal 21 February 2001 by Pope John Paul II Rank Cardinal-Priest of S. Bernardo alle Terme Personal details Born (1927-05-29)29 May 1927 North Parur, Travancore Died 1 April 2011(2011-04-01) (aged 83) Ernakulam, Kerala, India Parents Mr. Joseph Vithayathil Mrs. Thresiamma Manadan

Ordination history of Varkey Vithayathil History Priestly ordination Ordained by Archbishop Thomas Pothacamury Date 12 June 1954 Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Pope John Paul II Co-consecrators Archbishop Giovanni Battista Re, Archbishop Miroslav Stefan Marusyn Date 6 January 1997 Cardinalate Elevated by Pope John Paul II Date 21 January 2001 Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Varkey Vithayathil as principal consecrator Emmanuel Mani Giles Pothanamuzhy January 26, 1997 Thomas Elavanal November 11, 1997 Thomas Chakiath January 19, 1998 Lawrence Mukkuzhy August 4, 1999 Joseph Kunnath, C.M.I. October 6, 1999 Matthew Vaniakizhakel, C.V. April 12, 2000 Jacob Angadiath July 1, 2001 Sebastian Adayanthrath April 20, 2002 Mathew Anikuzhikattil March 2, 2003 José Porunnedom March 18, 2004 Anthony Chirayath March 25, 2006 Thomas Thuruthimattam, C.S.T. October 1, 2006 Joseph Arumachadath, M.C.B.S. August 29, 2007 Bosco Puthur January 18, 2010

**Varkey Vithayathil** [CSsR](/source/Redemptorists) (29 May 1927 – 1 April 2011) was an Indian [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) who served as the [Major Archbishop](/source/List_of_Major_Archbishops_of_Ernakulam-Angamaly) of the [Syro-Malabar Catholic Church](/source/Syro-Malabar_Catholic_Church) and [Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly](/source/Syro-Malabar_Catholic_Major_Archeparchy_of_Ernakulam%E2%80%93Angamaly) from 1999 to 2011. He was also a [religious priest](/source/Catholic_religious_order) of the [Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer](/source/Congregation_of_the_Most_Holy_Redeemer).[1]

## Early life and ordination

Born to Joseph Vithayathil and Thresiamma Manadan in [North Parur](/source/North_Paravur), [Travancore](/source/Travancore), he became a member of the [Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer](/source/Congregation_of_the_Most_Holy_Redeemer) (Redemptorists), a religious congregation founded by [Alphonsus Ligouri](/source/Alphonsus_Ligouri) in 1732. He was ordained as a priest on 12 June 1954. He was granted a doctorate in [canon law](/source/Canon_law_(Catholic_Church)) from the [Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)](/source/Pontifical_University_of_St._Thomas_Aquinas_(Angelicum)) in Rome on *The Origin and Progress of the Syro-Malabar Hierarchy*. He taught for 25 years at the [Redemptorist](/source/Congregation_of_the_Most_Holy_Redeemer) seminary in [Bangalore](/source/Bangalore). In 1972 he took his master's degree in philosophy from [Karnataka University](/source/Karnataka_University). He also taught different subjects in several other seminaries in Bangalore.

## Provincial Superior

From 1978 to 1984 he was the Provincial Superior of the Redemptorist Provinces of India and [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka).[2] Then, from 1984 to 1985 he was President of the India Conference of Religious. In 1990, he was appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of the Asirvanam [Benedictine](/source/Benedictine) Monastery in Bangalore by [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II).

## Metropolitan and Gate of all India

He was appointed [Apostolic Administrator](/source/Apostolic_Administrator) of Ernakulam-Angamaly on 11 November 1996 and was [consecrated](/source/Holy_Orders) a bishop on 6 January 1997. [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) appointed him as the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly and Head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, on 23 December 1999. In February 2008 he was elected President of the [Catholic Bishops Conference of India](/source/Catholic_Bishops_Conference_of_India)[3] and held the presidency from 19 February 2008 to 3 March 2010.

## Cardinal

Pope John Paul II appointed Varkey Vithayathil a member of the [Sacred College of Cardinals](/source/Sacred_College_of_Cardinals) on 21 January 2001, and raised him to that dignity at the Consistory of 21 February 2001 becoming [Cardinal-Priest](/source/Cardinal-Priest) of *[S. Bernardo alle Terme](/source/S._Bernardo_alle_Terme)*. He was one of the [cardinal electors](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_2005) who participated in the [2005 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2005) that elected [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI).

## Sacerdotal golden jubilee

The sacerdotal [golden jubilee](/source/Golden_jubilee) of Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil was celebrated under the auspices of the Syro-Malabar church on 8 November 2003. The jubilee was inaugurated on 12 June 2003 and was concluded on 12 June 2004.

Varkey Vithayathil former Major Archbishop

## Opinions

### Fifth Marian dogma

Varkey Vithayathil supported proposals to solemnly proclaim a fifth Marian dogma on the [co-redemption](/source/Co-Redemption) and mediation of graces, saying it would be beneficial to the Church and that it would have positive ecumenical effects.[4]

## Death

He died suddenly from a massive heart attack on 1 April 2011. He had suffered from prolonged heart problems for some time and died about 2:00 pm of sudden and irreversible cardiac arrest from the heart attack at [Lisie Hospital](/source/Lisie_Hospital) in Ernakulam, where he had been hurriedly taken after fainting while celebrating Mass at noon in his chapel in the Major Archbishop's house, in Ernakulam.[5] The funeral was held on 10 April 2011 at [St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam](/source/St._Mary's_Cathedral_Basilica%2C_Ernakulam). Varkey himself did not have any children, obviously, but his brother's line still lives today, with the eldest grandchild of Varkey's brother, living in Mumbai, India, and the second grandchild, living in UK. as of 2017[6][7]

## Works

- *The Origin and Progress of the Syro-Malabar Hierarchy*, Thesis, [Angelicum](/source/Pontifical_University_of_Saint_Thomas_Aquinas), 1959. Published: Oriental Institute of Religious Studies, India, 1980.

- *Straight From the Heart*, autobiography and opinions in the form of an extended interview, 2009.

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** *Annuaro Pontificio per l'anno 2010*. Città del Vaticano: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 2010. pp. 95*, 1441.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [""Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R.", *Scala*, April 1, 2011"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304135723/http://scalanews.com/scala/varky/scalaenglish.html). Archived from [the original](http://scalanews.com/scala/varky/scalaenglish.html) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Cardinal Vithayathil elected new president of Indian bishops"](http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=11564). AsiaNews. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [5th Dogma a Marian Antidote](http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/z5dogmant.htm)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Indian Catholic News](http://www.cathnewsindia.com/2011/04/01/cardinal-varkey-vithayathil-dies/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110404011958/http://www.cathnewsindia.com/2011/04/01/cardinal-varkey-vithayathil-dies/) 4 April 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) [Radio Vatican](http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=474919) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120121092236/http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=474919) 21 January 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Bosco Puthur](/source/Bosco_Puthur): [Announcement of the funeral of Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil](http://www.smcim.org/files/portal/news/attach1_139.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120321165701/http://www.smcim.org/files/portal/news/attach1_139.pdf) 21 March 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) [Circular (in Malayalam)](http://www.ernakulamarchdiocese.org/curia.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110928080700/http://www.ernakulamarchdiocese.org/curia.pdf) 28 September 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Bosco Puthur](/source/Bosco_Puthur): [Circular (in Malayalam) on the concluding of the funeral of Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil](http://www.smcim.org/files/portal/news/attach1_173.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111001060819/http://www.smcim.org/files/portal/news/attach1_173.pdf) 1 October 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), 18 April 2011.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Varkey Vithayathil](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Varkey_Vithayathil).

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Varkey Vithayathil](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Varkey_Vithayathil)***.

- [Official biography at Archdiocese of Ernakulam](https://web.archive.org/web/20110412072059/http://www.ernakulamarchdiocese.org/archbishop.php)

- [Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church](https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios2001.htm#Vithayathil#Vithayathil)

- [Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Catholic Hierarchy](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bvith.html)

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Cardinal Antony Padiyara / Pontifical Delegate Abraham Kattumana Major Archbishop of Ernakulam 1996–2011 Succeeded by George Alencherry

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Varkey Vithayathil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varkey_Vithayathil) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varkey_Vithayathil?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.