Cardinal Koovakad is a member of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

Cardinal Koovakad is a member of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Photo: Vatican News

Cardinal Koovakad Appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue

His appointment comes as he succeeds the late Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, a Spanish prelate who dedicated his life to Catholic-Muslim dialogue and passed away in November 2024.

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(ZENIT News / Rome, 01.25.2025).- The Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Joseph Koovakad as the new prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. At just 51 years old, Koovakad assumes leadership of the key Vatican office responsible for fostering relationships with leaders and followers of the world’s major religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism.

The announcement, made by the Holy See on January 24, also confirmed that Cardinal Koovakad will maintain his role as coordinator of the pope’s international travels, a responsibility he has held for the past several years.

A Diplomatic Bridge-Builder in a Divided World

Born in 1973 in Chethipuzha, Kerala, in southern India, Cardinal Koovakad is a member of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, one of the oldest branches of Christianity with deep roots in Indian history. His background as a Vatican diplomat has taken him to postings in Algeria, South Korea, Iran, Costa Rica, and Venezuela, giving him firsthand experience in countries where Catholics form a minority and religious dialogue is not just an ideal but a necessity.

“I was born and raised in a multicultural and multireligious society where all faiths are respected and harmony is preserved,” Koovakad told Vatican News in his first interview after the announcement. “Diversity is a richness, not a threat.”

His appointment comes as he succeeds the late Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, a Spanish prelate who dedicated his life to Catholic-Muslim dialogue and passed away in November 2024.

The Vatican’s Vision for Interreligious Dialogue

The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue plays a crucial role in the Holy See’s diplomatic and pastoral mission. According to the *Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium*, which governs the Curia, the dicastery’s mission is “to ensure that dialogue with followers of other religions is conducted with an attitude of listening, esteem, and respect.”

It also seeks to foster collaboration across religious lines “so that, through the contributions of all, peace, freedom, social justice, and the safeguarding of creation may be promoted.”

While Koovakad admitted feeling some apprehension about assuming the role, he emphasized his confidence in the power of prayer and the collective hope for a world where religious differences serve not as points of division but as “building blocks for peace.”

Shaping the Future of Papal Diplomacy

Cardinal Koovakad is no stranger to high-level Vatican operations. Since 2020, he has been a key figure in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, managing the logistical and diplomatic intricacies of the pope’s international visits.

In this role, he has coordinated some of Pope Francis’ most significant trips, including journeys to Kazakhstan, Bahrain, and Mongolia—countries where interfaith dialogue has been a central theme. His expertise was put to the test again in September 2024, when Pope Francis undertook his longest trip to date, visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.

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