Vatican withdraws pontifical delegate overseeing Indian archeparchy as liturgical dispute finds resolution

After years of bitter dispute over liturgical reform, peace has finally been reached in the Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church, and the Vatican is ending direct oversight of the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly in India.

Since 2023, Archbishop Cyril Vasil has served as the pontifical delegate of the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. Pope Leo agreed to end the archbishop’s position as delegate last month, and the Vatican informed Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil of the Syro-Malabar Church of the change in a statement released July 7, according to UCA News. 

The Vatican had previously deemed oversight necessary because the archeparchy has experienced intense conflict over liturgical practice. The Syro-Malabar Church, which is in full communion with the Pope, introduced liturgical reforms in 2021 that led to disagreement, protests, and even violence.

The key disagreement was over which direction priests should face while celebrating the liturgy (the “Holy Qurbana”). The new guidelines specify that priests should turn to the altar (“ad orientem”), not the people, for the period of the liturgy when the Eucharist is confected, known as the “Anaphora.”

In most eparchies (the Eastern equivalent of dioceses), the new guidelines were implemented with relatively little difficulty. However, in the archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, the vast majority of priests — more than 400 — refused to comply, according to the UCA News article. They were part of a movement of priests and laypeople who have believed the new guidelines are unacceptable. This group argued that the practice of facing the people “is in harmony with the reforms of Vatican Council II and deeply rooted after more than 50 years of use,” according to The Pillar.

Pope Francis personally urged the priests to comply with the new rubrics and the laity to accept them as legitimate. He sent a letter in 2021 asking all clergy to implement the changes “for the greater good and unity of your Church.” In 2022, he sent another letter, according to Vatican News. Then, in 2023, the pope appointed Archbishop Vasil as the Pontifical Delegate of the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly in hopes of encouraging a peaceful solution.

In 2024, Thattil was appointed archbishop of the archeparchy. As CatholicVote previously reported, his central concern was “to go after the lost sheep” and put an end to the dispute. 

A compromise was reached this year and implemented on July 3, the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, the saint who first preached the Gospel in India. Priests may continue to celebrate the liturgy facing the people provided they offer at least one liturgy in accord with the new rubrics every Sunday and major feast day.

 >> Parishioners force priest from altar as Indian liturgical dispute turns violent <<

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