His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis left for Rome on 26 February to attend a meeting with the Holy Father on 28 February and take part in a conclave to elect the new pope.
The five Cardinals from India to take part in the election of the new pope are Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal George Alenchery, Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis and Cardinal Ivan Dias. This is the first time in the history of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, a Cardinal attends the conclave.