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Pope Benedict XVI elevated George Alencherry to the rank of cardinal in 2012, recognizing his contributions to the Catholic Church in India. Alencherry, the Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, became the first cardinal from the Syro-Malabar Church, an Eastern Catholic Church based in Kerala. His appointment marked a significant milestone for the Indian Catholic community, reflecting the growing importance of the Syro-Malabar Church within the global Catholic landscape.