Pope appoints new Prefect to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
(May 10, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday appointed a new head for Vatican’s
Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples in place of Indian Cardinal Ivan Dias,
who has retired for reasons of age. (According to the Code of Canon Law the retiring
age is 75) The new Prefect of the Congregation is Archbishop Fernando Filoni, who
until now was Substitute for General Affairs of Vatican’s Secretariat Cardinal
Ivan Dias was born in Mumbai, 14 April 1936 and was ordained priest 8 December, 1958.
He was consecrated bishop 19 June , 1982, and elevated to the rank of cardinal
21 February, 2001. He was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization
of People May 20, 2006.