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