George Koovakad

Mar George Jacob Koovakad
Cardinal Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
Church	Syro-Malabar Church
Appointed	24 January 2025
Predecessor	Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot
Other post(s)	Head of the Journeys Office of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See (2021–) Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia (2024–)
Previous post(s)	Official of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See (2006–2021) Titular Archbishop of Nisibis of the Chaldeans (2024)
Orders
Ordination	24 July 2004 by Joseph Powathil
Consecration	24 November 2024 by Raphael Thattil
Created cardinal	7 December 2024 by Pope Francis
Rank	Cardinal-Deacon
Personal details
Born	(1973-08-11) 11 August 1973 (age 51) Chethipuzha, India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	SB College Changanasserry
Motto	Fragantiam Christi caritatis effundere (To pour out the fragrance of Christ's charity)
Coat of arms
Ordination history
History Priestly ordination Ordained by Joseph Powathil Date 24 July 2004 Episcopal consecration Consecrated by Raphael Thattil Date 24 November 2024[1]

George Jacob Koovakad (born 11 August 1973) is an Indian cardinal of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church who is prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Since 2020 he has worked in the offices of the Holy See's Secretariat of State in the Journeys Office, which is responsible for organizing Pope Francis' overseas trips, and he has headed that office since 2021. From 2006 to 2020, he fulfilled assignments in several countries while working in the diplomatic service of the Holy See.

Pope Francis made Koovakad a cardinal on 7 December 2024. He appointed Koovakad a titular archbishop on 25 October 2024, and he was consecrated on 24 November.