New Indian cardinal part of select club

Pope Benedict XVI on Friday named 22 new cardinals,who form an elite group of top advisers to the papacy. While most of the names are Italians holding major Vatican positions,the head of the Kochi-based Syro Malabar Roman Catholic Church,Major Archbishop George Alanchery,is among the new appointees.

The 66-year-old is the 10th Indian Bishop and the fourth from Kerala to be elevated as cardinal. What is significant about Alancherys appointment is that he would be eligible to take part in the cardinals conclave that elects the next Pope. The Syro-Malabar Church is one of the 22 eastern churches under the Vatican.

The Pope is elected from among the constituency of cardinals and only those below the age of 80 have voting rights. Although the country has six cardinals,only three of them including Alanchery are below the age of 80.

The new cardinals will be formally elevated at a February 18 ceremony in Rome.

Alanchery has been serving as bishop of Thakkala diocese near Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and was elected church head on May 27 last year. While traditionally the church head has been selected by the Vatican,in a first,Alanchery was elected by voting.