Bangalore, October 6, 2024 (CCBI): Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad, a 51-year-old Indian priest from the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Changanacherry, Kerala, has been elevated to the rank of Cardinal. Msgr. Geroge Jacob has been responsible for organizing Pope Francis’ international travels since 2020. He is among 21 new Cardinals announced by Pope Francis on October 6, 2024. The formal ceremony for the creation of these Cardinals is scheduled for December 8, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Msgr. Koovakad joined the Vatican Diplomatic Service in 2006, after completing his formation at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. He has served in Apostolic Nunciatures in Algeria, South Korea, Iran, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. Currently, he is an official in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, overseeing the Holy Father’s travels.
Another notable appointee to the College of Cardinals is Fr. Fabio Baggio, C.S., Undersecretary for the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development. Fr. Baggio worked closely with Pope Francis as Secretary when the latter chaired the Argentine Episcopal Conference’s Migrant Commission.
Among the new Asian Cardinals are Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D., of Tokyo (Japan); Bishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David of Kalookan (Philippines); Archbishop Dominique Joseph Mathieu, O.F.M. Conv., of Tehran-Ispahan (Iran); and Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, O.F.M., of Bogor (Indonesia).
Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad was born on August 11, 1973, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was ordained a priest on July 24, 2004, and later pursued training for diplomatic service at the prestigious Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. In 2006, he began his diplomatic career at the Apostolic Nunciature in Algeria.
Over the years, Msgr. Koovakad served in various key roles, including as Secretary of the Nunciature in South Korea (2009–2012) and Iran (2012–2014). He then became Counsellor of the Nunciatures in Costa Rica (2014–2018) and Venezuela (2018–2020). In 2020, he joined the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, where he assumed responsibility for organizing the global travels of Pope Francis. Since 2021, he has played a vital role in coordinating and managing the logistics of the Holy Father’s trips around the world.
By Dr Stephen Alathara