Thousands attend funeral of Cardinal Vithayathil

Thousands of faithful on Sunday paid last respect to Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil, the Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Catholic Church, who passed away in Kochi on April 1. His body was laid to rest with full state honors at St Mary's Basilica Cathedral at 8pm.

The last rites of the 84-year-old cardinal was led by Bishop Bosco Puthur, administrator, Syro Malabar Church, and participated by about 70 bishops and over 1,000 priests.

Archbishop Cyril Vasil, Vatican delegate and secretary of Congregation for Oriental Churches represented Pope Benedict XVI at the funeral.

Cardinal Telesfor Topo, President of the Latin Catholic Bishops Conference of India, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Union Minister Vayalar Ravi, Justice Cyriac Joseph, Bishop Andrews Thazhath and Verapoly Archbishop Dr Francis Kallarakkal spoke at the condolence meeting held in the church. A message from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was read out during the meet.

The body was taken out in procession around the parish at 4.30pm and it concluded at the basilica by 5.30pm.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil passed away at Lissy Hospital in Ernakulam at 2pm on April 1. He was 84, and been serving as Major Archbishop of Ernakulam and Angamaly Archdiocese and member of Most Holy Redeemer.

"In the passing away of Cardinal Vithayathil, the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and the entire Catholic Church in India lost a deeply committed and ever courageous spiritual leader," said the Catholic Bishops Conference of India.