Archbishop George Jacob Koovakad was ordained as a Cardinal by Pope Francis on 7th December 2024 in a ceremony at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Koovanad was among the 21 new Cardinals appointed by the Vatican.

Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad was born in Chethipuzha, Kerala, India, on 11 August 11 1973 and was ordained a priest in 2004 in Changanacherry. He joined the staff of the Secretariat of State in July 2020 and since 2021 has organized several papal trips, including visits to Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan, as well as a lengthy trip to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore.

Pope Francis appointed Koovakad titular archbishop of Nisibis of the Chaldeans on 25 October 2024. As Cardinal, he has been assigned as a member of the order of cardinal deacons the deaconry of Sant’Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia.

On 7th December 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed “immense pride for India that Archbishop George Koovakad will be created as a Cardinal by His Holiness Pope Francis.” In a post on social media, the PM also mentioned that the Government of India sent a delegation led by Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs, George Kurian, to witness this Ceremony.

On Sunday, PM Modi extended best wishes to the new Cardinal and said, “His Eminence George Cardinal Koovakad has devoted his life in service of humanity as an ardent follower of Lord Jesus Christ.”