Syro-Malabar bishops to elect Major Archbishop

Kochi, May 21: The Synod of the Syro-Malabar bishops will elect its Major Archbishop in the session from May 23 to May 29.

Forty-six bishops of the Synod in the first time in history would be electing the new Major Archbishop since the synod had been given its full power during the time Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, a release said here today.

All the bishops of the Synod do have the active and passive power to vote the new Major Archbishop from among themselves or from any priest of the church who is eligible for the post of bishop.

Even after five rounds of voting no one gets 23 majority, for the next two rounds only absolute majority is needed, it said.

If even then one was not elected the two persons who scored highest votes would contest between themselves for which a relative majority woul suffice.

The name of one elected, with his consent, had to be sent to the Pope for approval and only then the new Major Archbishop will be announced.

The new Major Archbishop?s name is expected to be announced by May 29, it added.

--UNI

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