His Beatitude Cardinal Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis is an Indian prelate dedicated to ecumenism and interreligious dialogue but who has also spoken out against forced conversions of Christians to Hinduism.

Born Isaac Thottumkal on June 15, 1959, in Mukkoor, Mallappally, in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, India, he is a prominent figure in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and currently serves as the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum.

Thottumkal completed his primary education at St. Mary’s UP School in Kunnanthanam and his secondary education at St. Mary’s High School in Anickad. He then entered the Infant Mary Minor Seminary, Tiruvalla, in June 1976, and completed his philosophical and theological studies for the priesthood respectively at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Alwaye, and at the Pontifical Institute for Philosophy and Religion, Pune.

Thottumkal was ordained priest on June 11, 1986. He continued to study theology at Dharmaram College, Bangolore, until 1988 and in 1997 earned a doctorate in ecumenism at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome.

After ordination he served in various capacities, including as the Spiritual Father of the Minor Seminary and Chancellor of the Eparchy. On August 15, 2001, he was consecrated as a bishop, taking the name Isaac Mar Cleemis. He served as the Apostolic Visitator for Malankara Catholic faithful in North America and Europe for two years.

In 2003, Mar Cleemis was appointed Bishop of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla, and in 2006, he became the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla. His rapid ascent in the Church hierarchy culminated on February 10, 2007, when he was elected and confirmed as the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, assuming the name Baselios Cleemis.

On November 24, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the College of Cardinals. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest member of the College and the first cardinal from the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

Mar Cleemis has held several important positions within the Catholic Church in India. He served as president of the Indian Catholic Bishops’ Conference from 2014 to 2018 and as president of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council from 2013 to 2015.

He is also a member of the Dicasteries for the Oriental Churches and Interreligious Dialogue.

As a prominent religious leader in India, Mar Cleemis has been vocal on various social and religious issues. He has criticized forced conversions of Christians to Hinduism, speaking out against the practice of “reconversions.” In another instance, he emphasized that religion should not be used to deny equal rights, addressing concerns about religious discrimination in India.

Mar Cleemis has focused on promoting interreligious dialogue as a means to foster peace, mutual understanding, and cooperation among different faith communities in India and beyond. His statements and actions reflect a commitment to building bridges between diverse religious traditions while maintaining respect for each faith’s unique identity.

He has also shown a strong commitment to ecumenical efforts, particularly within the context of Eastern Christianity and its relationship with the Roman Catholic Church. The Indian cardinal has emphasized the importance of unity among Eastern Churches, especially those with roots in India. He has stated that the Eastern Churches should work together to preserve their unique traditions while maintaining communion with Rome. He has participated in various ecumenical meetings and initiatives aimed at fostering greater understanding and cooperation between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Mar Cleemis participated as a cardinal-elector in the conclave that elected Pope Francis, making history as the first cardinal from the Syro-Malankara Church to do so.

He is fluent in Malayalam, the primary language of Kerala, and English.