Cardinal Koovakad Appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue

Vatican City, January 24, 2025: Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad as the new Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, entrusting him with the mission of fostering harmony among diverse religious traditions. The announcement, made by the Holy See Press Office on Friday, also confirmed that Cardinal Koovakad will retain his current role as organizer of the Pope's Apostolic Journeys.

The Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue oversees the Catholic Church's relations with non-Christian religions, excluding Judaism, which is managed by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. Cardinal Koovakad’s appointment as Prefect of the Dicastery comes less than two months after his inclusion in the College of Cardinals and his elevation to Archbishop.

In an interview with Vatican News’ Andrea Tornielli, the Cardinal expressed his feelings after hearing the news of his appointment.

“I feel wonder, joy, and great trepidation for the immense responsibility of succeeding wise and kind leaders like Cardinal Ayuso and Cardinal Tauran, both of whom were tireless builders of peace,” Cardinal Koovakad said.

Interreligious Dialogue: A Pathway to Peace

During the interview, Cardinal Koovakad emphasized the significance of interreligious dialogue in fostering global peace, drawing from his upbringing in Kerala, India, a region renowned for its multicultural harmony. "Diversity is richness," he said.

He also highlighted the Church’s longstanding tradition of interfaith engagement, rooted in the Second Vatican Council. “Christian faith is capable of inculturation,” he said. “This does not mean giving up one’s identity, but rather being aware that identity should never be a reason to build walls or discriminate against others. Instead, it should always be an opportunity to build bridges,” the Cardinal added.

The cardinal described interreligious dialogue as “not simply a dialogue between religions but between believers called to bear witness to the beauty of believing in God and practicing fraternal charity and respect.”.

A Legacy of Dialogue

The Cardinal reflected on historical milestones in the Catholic Church’s relations with other religions by citing Pope St. Paul VI’s 1969 pilgrimage to Uganda and Pope St. John Paul II’s address to Muslim youth in Casablanca in 1985. He also mentioned Pope Benedict XVI’s silent prayer in Istanbul’s Blue Mosque in 2006 and Pope Francis’s landmark signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

Experience in Papal Visits

As the organizer of papal visits to various nations, Cardinal Koovakad underscored the interreligious dimensions of these journeys. “The Holy Father’s travels almost always have interreligious dimensions, encounters with authorities of other faiths, and moments of lived fraternity,” he said, recalling Pope Francis’s blessing of the ‘Friendship Tunnel’ in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the historic dialogue with Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani in Iraq.

Cardinal Koovakad concluded the interview by reflecting on his experiences during papal visits to non-Christian countries like Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Bahrain. “The context of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue is entirely new to me. However, I believe that the experience I have gained during papal trips to these countries, as well as my past diplomatic service in Algeria, South Korea, and Iran, will greatly help me in carrying out my responsibilities as Prefect of the Dicastery,” he said.

Cardinal Koovakad’s appointment underscores the Vatican’s continued emphasis on interreligious dialogue as the cornerstone of peacebuilding efforts worldwide.

Courtesy: Vatican News