The supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India, Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, passed away in the early hours of Monday. He was 74. He was popularly known as Catholica Bava. He died around 2.35 am at a private hospital in Parumala in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district while undergoing treatment for post-COVID-19 complications. The senior priest, who had been suffering from lung cancer since December 2019, had recovered from the COVID-19 infection in February this year.

Baselios Marthoma Paulose II was the eighth Catholicos of the East in Malankara and 91st primate on the Apostolic Throne of St Thomas. He was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan in November 2010. He was a philanthropist and known for his secular ideologies. Condolences have been pouring in from social and political leaders of the state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan remembered him as a humble man who lived among the common people. “He was there for people who were struggling. He played a major role in bringing women to leadership roles in the church. His campaigns against drug usage were also notable.  He stood to bring peace in the church and society. He always stood for the interests of the church,” Chief minister said in his condolence message, adding that Bava lived a life equal to that of a saint and his demise is a huge loss to society.