Baselios Cleemis (born 15 June 1959) is the current major archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI on 24 November 2012. Cleemis is the first bishop of the Syro-Malankara Church, and the fifth Keralite, to be created a cardinal. He said it was a sign of the Pope's appreciation of Indian Catholics' "unity in diversity", and cited the witness, the defence of human life, and the example of authentic prayer given by Mother Teresa.Photograph credit: Prathyush Thomas