George Jacob Koovakad was born in Chethipuzha, in Kerala's Kottayam district, on 11 August 1973. He read chemistry at St Berchman's College, Changanassery — where he presided over the Catholic Students Movement — before seminary at Kurichy and Aluva. He was ordained a priest of the Syro-Malabar Archeparchy of Changanassery on 24 July 2004, and took a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome in 2006, with a thesis on the obligation of poverty for secular clergy.
After the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy he joined the Holy See's diplomatic service in 2006, serving in Algeria, South Korea (2009–2012), Iran (2012–2014), Costa Rica (2014–2018) and Venezuela (2018–2020). In 2020 he joined the Secretariat of State, and from 2021 headed its Journeys Office — the organiser of Francis's travels to Canada, Congo and South Sudan, and the vast Asia-Pacific journey of 2024.
Francis announced him as a cardinal on 6 October 2024 — the first Syro-Malabar raised to the purple directly, without first being a Major Archbishop. He was consecrated titular Archbishop of Nisibis of the Chaldeans on 24 November 2024 and created Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia on 7 December; Francis placed on his head not a biretta but the black-and-red shash of the East Syriac tradition. On 24 January 2025 he became Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. As the most junior cardinal-deacon he served the 2025 conclave drawing the scrutineers by lot and opening and closing the Sistine Chapel doors. His motto: Fragrantiam Christi caritatis effundere — “to pour out the fragrance of Christ's charity.”
Consequential Quotes
I feel wonder, joy, and great trepidation for the immense responsibility of succeeding a wise and kind man like Cardinal Ayuso, and a man of profound faith and tireless peacebuilder like Cardinal Tauran.
Interreligious dialogue is not about changing someone's religion. It is about listening, understanding, respecting, and building trust. It is about mutual enrichment.
Religions, through their spiritual and moral resources, have a unique role in fostering reconciliation and healing.
Interreligious dialogue is a necessary condition for peace in the world.
Major Works & Initiatives
Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
The first Syro-Malabar to head a curial dicastery; the third Indian ever to do so.
Head of the Papal Journeys Office
Organised Francis's apostolic journeys, from Canada to Papua New Guinea.
The Obligation of Poverty for Secular Clerics
His doctoral thesis in canon law (Pontifical University of the Holy Cross).
Diplomat of the Holy See
Postings across Algeria, Korea, Iran, Costa Rica and Venezuela.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.