The Vatican said the 83-year-old prelate died Friday. He had suffered a heart attack a year ago, Indian reports said. Benedict lauded the cardinal's "dedication and service" to the Syro-Malabar church in India. During a period of tension and violence between Hindus and Christians in 2008, Vithayathil condemned attacks on Christians and what he called "growing intolerance of certain sectors of society." He referred to tensions between Christian missionaries working with the poor and hardline Hindu groups who claim Christians are forcing people to convert. The churches deny the charges