KOCHI: The Syro-Malabar Church said that the protest against the Vatican representative who came to resolve the dispute regarding the unified Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica is extremely regrettable. The church responded by issuing a press release on the incident of blocking the Pontifical Delegate Archbishop Cyril Vasil from reaching St. Mary's Basilica under the Angamaly Archdiocese. A group of believers blocked the representative appointed by Pope Francis to resolve the dispute yesterday.

The Church said that it was reprehensible that those who had asked for the Pontifical Delegate had blocked him. The church also clarified that there were anti-Christian practices during the protest. Shouting inflammatory slogans and creating a situation of tension cannot be justified. The Syro-Malabar church through a press release also requests that those concerned should withdraw from such protests, which are not by the culture of Christians.

Disrespect and opposition to the Pontifical Delegate is disobedience and disregard for the Holy Father. The Church said that the Pontifical Delegate who faced the objections prayerfully while holding the Eucharist in his hand while being ignored by the most vile and insulting expressions is a noble Christian witness. The note also requests that those who have shown disrespect apologize and correct their mistakes and try to stay close to the church.

At the same time, the police had registered a case against 100 people who were known by sight in the conflict at St. Mary's Basilica. The case has been registered by the Central Police. The case is under various counts such as unlawful assembly, obstructing the police, and causing damage to the church.