Mar Raphael Thattil, The New Major Archbishop

 Mar Raphael Thattil was elected the new Major Archbishop on Jan. 11 and was installed as the Major Archbishop at Mt.St.Thomas on Jan. 12. His election was greeted with great joy and enthusiasm as his name was a surprise and was not mentioned in the media as a possible candidate. His pleasant nature, affability, availability, and ever-present smile have evoked a great response among the Catholic faithful. It was with great enthusiasm and happiness that people received him. There is a natural spontaneity and warmth in his interactions. He gives a new face to The Church. It is like fresh air being blown into the halls of the Church.

 His retreat talks were warmly and prayerfully received by the people at the Cathedral of Chicago. I was there on the last day to give him the vote of thanks on behalf of the diocese. I called him the crown of the Syro-Malabar Church because of the tremendous impression he has created in the minds of the people. 

We hope and pray that he will open a new chapter in the history of the Church especially because of the estrangement of the Ernakulam diocese from the mainstream of the Church. A new approach, more conciliatory and compromising has to be adopted to bring them into the fold.  It would be presumptuous to think that they would accept all the matters demanded of them within a few weeks. It may require many years for such a  transformation. What is important is the unity of the church and keeping the faithful close to Jesus. Insisting blind obedience and total submission is impractical. It may need more conciliatory approaches and years of walking together with them. At a time when it is difficult for us to bring another person into the Faith, we have to be careful not to alienate those who are in the Church. It is not a canonical approach that is needed but one that is charitable and magnanimous.

So many divisions in the church have happened because of the intransigence and narrow vision of a few people in the leadership. History tells us to go slowly. "Festina lente" should be the nature of our approach.