His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, on behalf of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, has extended warm and prayerful greetings to His Holiness Leo XIV, on his election as the new Pope and Bishop of Rome.
In a message sent to the Vatican, the Catholicos expressed joy at the news of the Pope’s election and assured him of the prayers and goodwill of the clergy and faithful of the Malankara Church.
"We convey our heartfelt congratulations and prayerful best wishes on your election as the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church" the message read. “We hold in hope that this new pontificate may continue to foster peace, reconciliation, and a deepened sense of unity among the Churches of Christ
The Catholicos also expressed hope for deepened ecumenical ties between the Roman Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, building on decades of theological dialogue and fraternal cooperation.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, one of the ancient apostolic churches in the East, traces its origin to the missionary work of St. Thomas the Apostle in India in the first century.