The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church has its roots in the Antiochian Rite, and is a Major Archiepiscopal sui iuris Eastern Catholic Church in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, with historical links to the Syrian Church.

On February 10, 2005, the Archdiocese of Trivandrum was elevated by Pope John Paul II to a Major Archdiocese, elevating the Archbishop to Major Archbishop also called the Catholicos. As a Major Archiepiscopal Church, the Syro-Malankara Church was granted the greatest level of self-government (autonomy) under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, governed by the Major Archbishop and the general synod of all bishops of the church, subject to papal oversight.

The current Major Archbishop and Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis (Thottunkal), who was elected by the Holy Synod as the successor of the late Moran Mor Cyril Baselios on 8th February 2007, and was confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI on 10th February 2007. His Beatitude was installed on 05 March 2007.

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