Indian Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad of the Syro-Malabar Church, official of the Secretariat of State and organizer of papal trips, was created a cardinal by Pope Francis during the consistory at St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 7, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Vatican City, Jan 24, 2025 / 07:10 am (CNA).
PopeFrancishasappointedhispersonaltravelagentandnewcardinal,GeorgeJacobKoovakad,toleadtheDicasteryforInterreligiousDialogue,followingthedeathlastyearofCardinalMiguelÁngelAyusoGuixot.
Ayuso,aSpanish-bornprelateandrespectedexpertinIslam,diedonNov.25,2024,afteralongillness.Hewas72.
The51-year-oldKoovakad,originallyfromthesouthernIndianstateofKerala,waselevatedtotheCollegeofCardinalsbyPopeFrancisinDecember.
Sincelate2021,theVaticandiplomathasbeenthecoordinatorforpapaltravels,workinginthesectionforgeneralaffairsoftheSecretariatofStatetoarrangeFrancis’trips.Healsohasadoctorateincanonlaw.
Koovakad,whowasinthediplomaticserviceoftheHolySeefor14years,ispartoftheSyro-MalabarChurch,oneoftheCatholicfaith’sEastern-riteChurches.Hewasthefi