Holy Mass row: Papal delegate issues strict warning, orders priests in Kerala archdiocese to obey Synodal decision

The opposition to the Synod’s directive spun out of control and turned violent. Even women were verbally abused in the church hall, forcing the closure of the St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Kochi in January.

The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is one of the 22 Eastern Oriental Churches in full communion with the Pope. The Synod’s attempt to reopen the Basilica after arriving at a consensus failed on 16 June.

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Cracking the whip

The situation further deteriorated when the Pontifical Delegate for the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, Archbishop Cyril Vasil, visited the church on Monday, 14 August.

In his letter, Archbishop Cyril Vasil ordered all priests under the archdiocese to implement the Synodal decision. (Sourced)

The Vatican appointed Vasil to address and resolve the ongoing conflict over the unified mass in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, where discontent has been brewing for some time among a significant section of priests, nuns, and laity over the synodal decision to “impose” uniformity in celebrating the Holy Mass in churches under its control.

A booing crowed hurled bottles at him even as the police took him into the church through a side door. The state intelligence wing had earlier warned of trouble, and the police were prepared when Vasil arrived at the church.

Three days after the incident, the pontifical delegate cracked the whip. In a hard-hitting letter addressed to all priests of the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, Vasil directed them to “implement the Synodal decision on the mode of celebration of the Holy Qurbana [Mass in Malayalam] with effect from 20 August, 2023″.

The archbishop noted that “the express directives given by the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches and the explicit demand of the Holy Father Pope Francis, the Synodal decision on the mode of celebration of the Holy Qurbana is not yet implemented in many churches”.

The pontifical delegate also issued a stern warning against those ignoring his directive. “Any disobedience of this order will be considered voluntary, personal and culpable disobedience to the Holy Father,” the letter read.

“…It is hereby intimidated to each of you personally that non-compliance with this direction will inevitably invite further disciplinary actions,” the archbishop said.

Related: Uncertainty prevails over Synod’s move to reopen St Mary’s Basilica

Zero-tolerance towards disobedience

However, the pontifical delegate made it clear that if any individual finds it difficulty to celebrate the Holy Mass according to the synodal decision due to intimidation, threats of physical violence and so on, there is no need to conduct any public celebration until a conducive situation arises.

He also ordered that the letter of Pope Francis regarding the celebration be read out on 20 August in all parish churches, filial churches, and all other institutions under the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese where Sunday Qurbana is celebrated.

After executing the order, the priests should send a letter to the chancellor of the Archeparchial Curia of the Ernakulam-Angamaly diocese confirming the reading, which should be attested by the parish priest, the assistant parish priest, if any, and other representatives of the parish council, it said.

Any disobedience would an act of impeding the right of the Holy Father to communicate with the people of God, and would be considered a “serious delict” against the Holy Father with subsequent canonical penal sanctions, Vasil warned.

“…I order each of you personally to commemorate the Pope, the Major Archbishop, and the Apostolic Administrator in all liturgical celebrations as prescribed in the liturgical texts and ensure that all those who assist the liturgical celebrations do the same.”

“I hereby warn you that any negligence to fulfil this order will invite canonical punishment as prescribed in the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches,” he said, referring to Canon 1438, in the letter.

The pontifical delegate also urged the priests to think seriously over the pledge of obedience taken at the time of their sacred ordination. Obeying of legitimate authority by the priests would set a good example before the faithful, Vasil added.

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Monday mayhem

A section of the laity jeered at Vasil when he arrived at the St Mary’s Basilica Cathedral under police protection on Monday.

St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica. (Wikimedia)

He held eucharistic adoration at a hall behind the church and later walked with the eucharist, even as the crowd shouted and even hurled empty water bottles at him.

Condemning the incident, India’s Eastern Rite Syro-Malabar Church said eggs, too, were thrown at the Archbishop.

Earlier, the crowd blocked Vasil’s car at the Cathedral’s gates around 6.15 pm, forcing the police to take the vehicle to the Archbishop’s house next door. He was taken into the Basilica through a small gate from the Archbishop’s compound, and the police escorted him to the rear side of the church, where he held the Eucharistic Adoration.

Meanwhile, the crowd swelled. Two assistant commissioners and more than 100 police personnel, including armed police, threw a security blanket around Vasil.

The police created a safe passage for the pontifical delegate and escorted him to entrance near the altar. Once he was inside the cathedral, the police sealed all doors.

The crowd shouted and banged on the windows as Vasil prayed at the altar. He was later escorted out of the cathedral premises. Once the police had left, the crowd rushed into the church and held prayers.

Fr Jose Vailikodath. one of the priests of the archdiocese, condemned Vasil’s action. He said they would complain against the Archbishop for using the eucharist as a weapon.

(With PTI inputs)