Archbishop Oswald Gracias of Bombay India’s new cardinal

(Oct. 18, 2007) Indian Archbishop, Oswald Gracias of Bombay is among the 23 new cardinals of the Catholic Church that Pope Benedict XVI announced on Wednesday. Eighteen of them are below the age of 80, meaning the total number of cardinals eligible to vote for a new pope soon stand at 122. They will officially become cardinals when Pope Benedict will bestow on them the red hat at a ceremony in the Vatican on Nov. 24. With these new appointments the total number of cardinals worldwide will climb to 202. Pope Benedict XVI made the announcement at the end of his weekly audience on Wednesday in St Peter's Square, reading out the names of each of the 23, including that of Archbishop Gracias. LISTEN:
The total number of new cardinals would have been 24, but retired Polish Bishop Ignacy Jez, whom the Pope had in the list, passed away the previous day, Tuesday, at the age of 93. The new "cardinal electors", who are under 80 years old, come from India, Italy, Argentina, the United States, Germany, Poland, Spain, Ireland, France, Senegal, Mexico, Brazil and Kenya.
Known as the "princes" of the Catholic Church, the cardinals are essentially the new papal advisers. This is the second time since his election in April 2005 that Pope Benedict has named new cardinals. The first was in March last year when he installed 15. Church law sets a ceiling of 120 on the number of so-called "cardinal electors". Currently there are 20 cardinals in Asia, 5 of them from India alone. Indian Archbishop, Oswald Gracias of Bombay, who is the lone Asian among the 23 new cardinals, will bring that number to 6. He spoke to us expressing his feelings on being chosen a cardinal. LISTEN:

Here is a brief outline of Cardinal-elect, Archbishop Oswald Gracias:
BIO-DATA
Date of Birth - December 24, 1944 at Mumbai
Parents - Jervis and Aduzinda Gracias
Ordained Priest - December 20, 1970
Ordained Bishop - September 16, 1997
Installed Abp. Agra - November 23, 2000
Appointed Abp. Bombay - October 14, 2006
Installed Abp of Bombay - December 14, 2006
Edu. Qualifications - B. A. at St Xavier's College, Ranchi; Doctor of Canon Law, Urban University, Rome; Diploma in Jurisprudence, Gregorian University, Rome

ASSIGNMENTS
1971-1976 - Secretary & Chancellor, Diocese of Jamshedpur
1977-1981 - Rome, studies in Canon Law
1982-1986 - Secretary to Archbishop of Bombay
1982-1997 - Chancellor, Archdiocese of Bombay
1988-1998 - Judicial Vicar, Archdiocese of Bombay
1997, June 28 - Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay
1998-2000 - Vicar General, Archdiocese of Bombay
2000, September 07 - Appointed Archbishop of Agra
1998-2002 - Secretary General, C.B.C.I
2005 - President, Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (Latin rite)

OTHER ASSIGNMENTS
1987-1991; 1993-1997 President, Canon Law Society of India
1988-1998 Consultor, C.C.B.I. Canon Law Commission
1990-1995 Consultor, Doctrinal Commission, C.B.C.I.
1996- Consultor, Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Rome
1998-2005 Chairman, C.C.B.I. Commission for Legislative Texts
2001- Vice Chairman, Vox Clara Committee, Congregation of
Sacraments, Rome
2002- Chairman, C.B.C.I. Commission for Social Commun. & Chairman, NISCORT
2002- Chairman, C.B.C.I. Commission for Law and Public litigation