Rome to meet the Syro-Malankarans

Yesterday, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity announced that from September 4-6, the Holy Father, Pope Francis will receive the visit of His Holiness, Moran Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the Orthodox Syro-Malankaran Church, which has its roots in India.  This meeting will take place during the pastoral visit of the Catholicos to the Orthodox Syro-Malankaran faithful in Europe.

The Malankaran Orthodox Church is divided in two communities: the Malankaran Syrian Orthodox Church, which is in full communion with the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch; and the Orthodox Syro-Malankaran Church, an autonomous Orthodox Church which recognizes his Holiness Moran Baselios Marthoma Paulose II as its leader.  Today, the Orthodox Syro-Malankaran Church numbers about 2.5 million members in 30 dioceses, served by 33 bishops and by 1,700 priests.

Of great importance were the meetings which took place between Blessed Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma MAthews I in 1983 in Rome and in 1986 in Kattoyam, India.  On that occasion, the Mixed International Commission for dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Syro-Malankaran Church was established.  An important fruit of this contact has been the common Christological Declaration which was signed in 1990 by Pope John Paul II and by Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews I.  Since 1989, two parallel dialogues have taken place each year in Kerala (Southern India), one with the Malankaran Syrian Orthodox Church and the other with the Orthodox Syro-Malankarna Church.  These dialogues are principally concerned with questions pertaining to three main themes: the history of the Church in India, Ecclesiology and the common witness of faith.

Besides his encounter with Pope Francis on September 5, Catholicos Moran Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, will visit the Tomb of the Apostle Peter and will also be received by the personnel of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.