The Catholic Church in India has welcomed the Vatican establishing a diocese for the Syro-Malankara Church in the United States with an official calling it the beginning of a “new era.”

The Vatican established an apostolic exarchate for the Oriental-rite Syro-Malankara Church in the United States on July 14.

Bishop-designate Thomas Naickamparampil, who was appointed to head the new diocese, is also to take care of members in Canada and Europe.

The Oriental Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites as well as the Latin rite make up the Indian Catholic Church. The Oriental Churches are based in Kerala state, southern India, and follow Syrian Church traditions. The Latin-rite Church was introduced by European missioners.

“I believe we are seeing a new era in inter-ritual equality and cordiality,” said Father Paul Thelakat, spokesperson of the Syro-Malabar Church.

The Latin Church welcomes the new overseas diocese and sees it as “sign of the Church’s growth,” said Father Uduma Bala, deputy secretary general of the Latin rite bishop’s conference.

The diocese “was a need” and such developments have “to be encouraged” because Churches have “every right to take care of the pastoral needs of their people,” he said.

Father Thelakat said: “For centuries both the Oriental Churches were confined within the boundaries of Kerala.” He said the Church is “happy to see the Vatican trying to implement the teaching of the Second Vatican Council on rites.”

Major Archbishop Baselios Mar Cleemis, head of Syro-Malankara Church, said his Church is “grateful to God” for its “first exarchate outside India.”

He said they have some 10,000 Catholics in 16 parishes in the US and Canada besides some 15 mission stations in Europe.

The Church, with the latest addition, has nine dioceses and some 500,000 Catholics.

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