Bishop Makil of Kottayam Recognised for Heroic Virtue by Pope

Vatican City, 22 May, 2025 — In a significant moment for the Church in India, Pope Francis has authorised the promulgation of a decree recognising the heroic virtues of Bishop Matteo Makil, the first Apostolic Vicar of Kottayam, Kerala. The announcement came during a private audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

Bishop Makil, born on 27 March 1851 in Manjoor, Kerala, played a pivotal role in the history of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, especially during a time of profound transformation and consolidation. Appointed as the first Apostolic Vicar of Kottayam, he worked tirelessly to foster unity, pastoral care, and the formation of clergy within the Church.

He is also credited with founding the Congregation of the Sisters of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which continues to serve in the fields of education, healthcare, and social outreach in India and beyond.

Bishop Makil passed away on 26 January 1914 in Kottayam, but his legacy lives on through the communities he shaped and the religious life he nurtured. With the recognition of his heroic virtues, he now holds the title Venerable, a crucial step on the path to sainthood. A miracle attributed to his intercession would be required for beatification.

Also recognised were two missionary martyrs—Bishop Alessandro Labaka Ugarte and Sister Agnese Arango Velásquez, who gave their lives in Ecuador in 1987 defending Indigenous peoples.

This latest recognition by the Vatican highlights the global reach of sanctity in the Catholic Church and affirms the spiritual depth and missionary zeal rooted in the Indian Church—especially in Kerala, often called the cradle of Christianity in India.

Courtesy: Vatican News