Archbishop Cornelius Elanjikal passes away

KOCHI: Archbishop Cornelius Elanjikal, 92, one of the oldest Roman Catholic bishops in the country, passed away at a private hospital here in the early hours of Sunday.He had been admitted to the intensive care unit after he developed respiratory complications.He was put on ventilator and was already under dialysis following kidney failure. The doctors had earlier informed that the Archbishop’s body had stopped responding to medicines owing to old age.Elanjikal, who had been under prolonged treatment for diabetes and heart disease, was hospitalised on July 18 with a severe case of pneumonia. On July 22, he had received the ‘Anointment for the sick.’Funeral on TuesdayArchbishop Cornelius Elanjikal will be laid to rest on Tuesday at 3 pm at St Francis Assisi Cathedral of the Verapoly Archdiocese here.The body will be taken from the hospital in a funeral procession on Monday at 9 am  to the Cathedral.The holy service will be held at 10 am under the leadership of Archbishop of Verapoly Francis Kallarackal. Following the service, the public can pay their respects to the late Archbishop.On Tuesday, the mortal remains of the Archbishop will be taken in a funeral procession to St Albert’s Higher Secondary School ground.The funeral service will commence by 3 pm. Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese George Alenchery will deliver the funeral address.After the funeral procession, the body will be buried in a specially-prepared crypt. The metropolitans from the Syro-Malabar, Latin and Malankara Churches will assist in the funeral service.Following the service, Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) president Archbishop Mar Andrwews Thazhath and Major Archbishop of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Mar Baselios Cleemis will deliver the commemoration speech.The body will then be taken in a funeral procession through the city which will culminate at St Francis Assissi Cathedral here.