Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Kerala’s Representative In Pope Election, Heads To Vatican

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, the representative from Kerala among India’s four cardinals, is set to travel to the Vatican on Tuesday morning to take part in the upcoming papal conclave following the death of Pope Francis.

Cleemis, 64, is the Major Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram and the head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He previously participated in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis, with whom he shared a close rapport. Reflecting on that moment, Cleemis recalled being assigned the room adjacent to the future Pope during the last conclave.

Pope Francis passed away early Monday at his Vatican residence. The Pope's mortal remains will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday for public homage. The process to elect a new Pope is expected to begin early next month, involving all cardinals under the age of 80. These cardinals, sequestered from the outside world in the Sistine Chapel, will continue voting until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority. Black smoke will signal an inconclusive vote, while white smoke will mark the successful election of the new Pope.

India will be represented in the conclave by four cardinals. In addition to Cleemis, they include Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, who, although of Kerala origin, was serving in the Vatican as a priest before being elevated to cardinal last December. The other two are Cardinal Anthony Poola, India’s first Dalit cardinal, and Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao.

Kerala, with a Christian population making up roughly 17% of its 3.3 crore residents, is home to three major Catholic rites: the Syro-Malabar, Latin, and Syro-Malankara Churches. Collectively, these traditions represent over half of the Christian community in the state.

As the global Catholic Church prepares to choose a new leader, all eyes will be on the Vatican—and on representatives like Cardinal Cleemis, who carry not only religious responsibility but also the hopes of their communities.

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