Bangalore: Pope Francis has re-nominated His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, to the Council of Cardinals advising the Holy Father for the reform of the Roman Curia and governance of the Universal Church. The Council of Cardinals is a body of seven close advisors to the Pope on the governance of the Universal Church. The announcement was made on October 15.
Additionally, Cardinal Oswald Gracias has been re-nominated by the Holy Father to be Member of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, the highest body in the Church on matters regarding Canon Law. This body suggests amendments and other changes in Canon Law to the Holy Father, and is entrusted with the responsibility of giving authentic interpretations on the Code of Canon Law.
In his congratulatory message, the President of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao said he was overjoyed at re-nomination of Oswald Cardinal Gracias as well as to the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, the highest body in the Church on matters regarding the Canon Law.”
“In the name of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India and on my own behalf, I would like to convey to His Eminence our profound joy and hearty congratulations on this renewed honour bestowed on him. We are legitimately proud of Cardinal Oswald and we invoke God’s abundant blessings upon him as he carries out such challenging and heavy responsibilities at the service of the Church in India and the Church Universal,” Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao added.
In another development, as Africa was unrepresented after Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya’s departure from the Council due to the political situation in his country, the new Archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, has been appointed to replace him. Also the Secretary of the Council of Cardinals, Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, has been appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He was the Secretary of the group from the very beginning.