Latin Hierarchy in Kerala at the Time of Mar Ivanios' Reunion Efforts

The Latin Hierarchy in Kerala during the late 19th and early 20th centuries was deeply rooted in the colonial and ecclesiastical history of the region. The arrival of the Portuguese in India brought significant transformations to the ecclesiastical landscape, with the Latin Church emerging as a pivotal force in shaping the Christian community in Kerala.

The early establishment of Latin dioceses and their evolution were instrumental in defining the structure and governance of the Church in Kerala during Mar Ivanios’ reunion efforts (1925–1930).

• Date Established: June 12, 1514
• Pope: Leo X (1513–1521)
• Jurisdiction: Included India, along with African and Asian territories under Portuguese patronage.
• The diocese of Funchal, located on the island of Madeira (Portugal), was established as a suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Lisbon. It marked the first instance of ecclesiastical jurisdiction over India and served as the foundation for the later establishment of Latin dioceses in the subcontinent.¹

• Date of Elevation: January 31, 1533
• Pope: Clement VII (1523–1534)
• Status: Suffragan of Funchal
• Scope: Governed the Latin Christian communities in Kerala.
• The diocese of Goa was later elevated to a metropolitan archdiocese on February 4, 1558, under Pope Paul IV, with Cochin and Malacca as its suffragan dioceses.²

• Date of Establishment: February 4, 1558
• Pope: Paul IV (1555–1559)
• Jurisdiction: Included the Malabar Coast (excluding St. Thomas Christians), Coromandel Coast, Madura Mission, Karnatic Mission, Burma, and Ceylon.
• The diocese of Cochin played a crucial role in the propagation of the Latin Rite in Kerala, though its scope was distinct from the St. Thomas Christian communities, which followed Eastern traditions.³

• Date of Establishment: 1659
• Purpose: Created under Propaganda Fide to cater to the Catholic St. Thomas Christians following the Coonan Cross Oath (1653) and subsequent schism.
• Evolution: The vicariate transitioned into the Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly, encompassing both Eastern and Western Christians in Kerala.
• Impact of Multa praeclare (1838): Pope Gregory XVI suppressed the Portuguese Padroado jurisdiction in India (except in Goa), transferring the dioceses of Cranganore, Cochin, and Mylapore under Propaganda Fide.⁴

• Year: 1845
• Result: The vast Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar was divided into three vicariates:
  • Quilon (exclusively for Latin Christians).
  • Mangalore (exclusively for Latin Christians).
  • Verapoly (for both St. Thomas Christians and Latin Christians).

• Year: 1860
• Concordat: Following negotiations between the Holy See and the Portuguese government, the diocese of Cochin was re-established as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Goa.⁵

• Apostolic Letter: Humanae salutis auctor by Pope Leo XIII (September 1, 1886).
• Outcome:
  • The Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly was elevated to an archdiocese with Quilon as its suffragan.
  • This reorganization marked a significant restructuring of the Latin Church in India.⁶

• Year: 1930
• Details: The archdiocese of Verapoly was bifurcated, and the diocese of Vijayapuram was established as its suffragan.⁷

• Archbishop Angel Maria Perez y Cecilia OCD (1918–1934)
  • Born on February 10, 1872, in Burgos, Spain.
  • Ordained as a Carmelite priest on June 10, 1895.
  • Appointed coadjutor archbishop of Verapoly in 1915 and succeeded Archbishop Felipe Arguinzonis in 1918.
  • Played a pivotal role in guiding the archdiocese through a period of significant change during Mar Ivanios’ reunion movement.⁸

• Bishop Aloysius Maria Benziger OCD (1905–1931)
  • Born on January 31, 1864, in Einsiedeln, Switzerland.
  • Ordained in 1888 and appointed coadjutor bishop of Quilon in 1900.
  • Succeeded Bishop Ferdinand Maria Ossi in 1905, governing the diocese during the early 20th century.⁹

• Bishop Jose Bento Martins Ribeiro (1909–1931)
  • Born on August 29, 1859, in Lourizal do Campo, Portugal.
  • Selected as bishop of Cochin in 1909 by the Portuguese government and confirmed by the Pope.
  • His tenure overlapped with Mar Ivanios’ reunion efforts, reflecting the evolving dynamics of the Latin hierarchy in Kerala.¹⁰

• Bishop Juan Vicente Arana y Idigoras OCD (1931–1946)
  • Appointed as the first bishop of the newly established diocese of Vijayapuram.
  • His tenure began shortly after the reunion of Mar Ivanios in 1930.

The Latin Hierarchy in Kerala during this time was shaped by a blend of indigenous traditions and European influences, reflecting the legacy of Portuguese colonialism and the Catholic Church’s missionary endeavors. The establishment of new dioceses and the reshaping of ecclesiastical jurisdictions demonstrated the Church’s adaptability to changing socio-political and religious realities.

The bishops governing these dioceses faced the challenge of addressing the spiritual and pastoral needs of their communities while navigating the complexities of Kerala’s diverse Christian traditions. Their leadership played a crucial role in fostering religious and cultural development in the region.

During Mar Ivanios’ reunion efforts (1925–1930), the Latin Hierarchy in Kerala was undergoing a period of significant transformation. The leadership of bishops such as Angel Maria Perez y Cecilia, Aloysius Maria Benziger, and Jose Bento Martins Ribeiro contributed to the shaping of the ecclesiastical landscape in Kerala, creating an environment conducive to dialogue and reconciliation.

This period highlighted the Church’s ability to balance tradition with the evolving realities of the time, paving the way for future developments in Kerala’s Christian community and its broader role within the universal Catholic Church.

1. Bullarium Patronatus Portugalliae in Ecclesiis Africae, Asiae atque Oceaniae, tomus 1, Olisipone 1868, pp. 100–101.
2. P. Pallath, Important Roman Documents, pp. 18–19.
3. Bullarium Patronatus Portugalliae, tomus 1, pp. 191–195.
4. Juris Pontificii de Propaganda Fide, vol. 5, pp. 195–198.
5. Conventio inter Pium IX et Petrum V Regem Portugalliae, Juris Pontificii de Propaganda Fide, vol. 7, pp. 316–322.
6. Pope Leo XIII, Humanae salutis auctor, Acta Sanctae Sedis 19 (1886), pp. 176–184.
7. Pope Pius XII, Ad Christi Nomen, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 24 (1932), pp. 67–69.
8. Hierarchia Catholica, vol. 9 (1903–1922), Padova 2002, p. 35.
9. Hierarchia Catholica, vol. 8 (1846–1903), Padova 1978, pp. 474, 533.
10. Hierarchia Catholica, vol. 9, p. 133.