Pope Elevates Goa & Hyderabad Archbishops as Cardinals among 21 Others Globally

News

By Verghese V Joseph –

Pope Francis on Sunday elevated two archbishops from India to the high rank of Cardinals.

During today’s Regina Caeli, Solemnity of the Ascension, the Holy Father Francis announced a Consistory for the creation of 21 new Cardinals. Of these, two are from India – His Excellencies Monsignor Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão – Archbishop of Goa and Damão and Monsignor Anthony Poola – Archbishop of Hyderabad.

Monsignor Anthony Poola will be country’s first Dalit cardinal.

“A meeting of all the Cardinals will be held on Monday and Tuesday 29 and 30 August to reflect on the new Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium ; and on Saturday 27 August I will hold a consistory for the creation of new cardinals,” the Holy Father said.

Accordingly, India will now have five Cardinals: George Allencherry from Ernakulam, Oswald Gracias from Mumbai, Telespnore Placidus Toppo from Ranchi, Poola Anthony from Hyderabad and Philip Neri from Goa.

Following are the 21 new Cardinals:

  1. HE Mons. Arthur Roche – Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
  2. HE Mons. Lazzaro You Heung-sik – Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.
  3. HE Mons. Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, LC , – President of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State.
  4. HE Mons. Jean-Marc Aveline – Metropolitan Archbishop of Marseille (France).
  5. HE Mons. Peter Ebere Okpaleke – Bishop of Ekwulobia (Nigeria).
  6. HE Mons. Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, OFM , – Metropolitan Archbishop of Manaus (Brazil).
  7. HE Msgr.Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão – Archbishop of Goa and Damão (India).
  8. HE Msgr.Robert Walter McElroy – Bishop of San Diego (USA)
  9. HE Mons. Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, SDB , – Archbishop of Díli (East Timor).
  10. HE Mons. Oscar Cantoni – Bishop of Como (Italy).
  11. HE Mons. Anthony Poola – Archbishop of Hyderabad (India).
  12. HE Mons. Paulo Cezar Costa – Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Brasília (Brazil).
  13. HE Msgr.Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M. Afr. , – Bishop of Wa (Ghana).
  14. HE Mons. William Seng Chye Goh – Archbishop of Singapore (Singapore).
  15. HE Mons. Adalberto Martínez Flores – Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción (Paraguay).
  16. HE Mons. Giorgio Marengo, IMC , – Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia).

Together with them, the following will also join the members of the College of Cardinals:

  1. HE Msgr.Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal – Archbishop Emeritus of Cartagena (Colombia).
  2. HE Mons. Lucas Van Looy, SDB , – Archbishop Emeritus of Ghent (Belgium).
  3. HE Mons. Arrigo Miglio – Archbishop Emeritus of Cagliari (Italy).
  4. Rev.do Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SI , – former Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University.
  5. Rev. Mons.Fortunato Frezza – Canon of St. Peter.

HE Msgr. Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão – Archbishop of Goa and Damão

 He was born on January 20, 1953 in Aldona, Goa. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology in the seminary of Poona.

He then obtained a Licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Urbaniana University (1988) and a Licentiate in Catechetics and Pastoral Theology from the International Institute Lumen Vitae (Brussels – 1991).

He received his priestly ordination on October 28, 1979.

During his priestly ministry he held various positions: Parish Vicar in Salvador do Mundo (1979) in Chinchinim (1981-84); Prefect and teacher of the Minor Seminary of Our Lady in Saligao-Pilerne (1984-1986). Diocesan Director of the Center for the Apostolate of the Laity (1991-1994); Ecclesiastical Advisor to the St. Luke’s Medical Guild (1993-1994); Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Goa.

On 25 January 1994 he was appointed titular bishop of Vanariona and auxiliary bishop of Goa and Damão.

Within the Episcopal Conference he held various positions: President of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Development (1995); President of the Commission for the Laity (1998-2002).

On January 16, 2004, John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Goa and Damão with the title of honorary Patriarch of the East Indies.

HE Msgr. Anthony Poola – Archbishop of Hyderabad

He was born on November 15, 1961 in Poluru, in the Diocese of Kurnool. After attending the Minor Seminary in Nuzvid, he studied at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore.

He received priestly ordination on February 20, 1992 and was incardinated in the Diocese of Cuddapah.

After his priestly ordination he held the following positions: 1992-1993: parish vicar in St. Mary’s Cathedral ; 1993-1994: parish vicar in Amagampalli; 1994-2001: Pastor in various parishes: 1994-1995 in Tekurpet; 1995-2000 in Badvel; 2000-2001 in Veerapalli; 2001-2003: Studies for the achievement of a Masters in Health Pastoral Care and course in Theology ( Loyola University, Chicago) in the United States; Pastoral service at St. Genevieve Church , in the Archdiocese of Chicago, USA.

From 2004 to 2008 he was Director of the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging.

He was also Diocesan Consultor, Secretary for Education, Deputy Administrator of the Schools of the Diocese of Cuddapah and Coordinator of the Sponsorship Program.

On February 8, 2008 he was appointed bishop of Kurnool

On November 19, 2020, the Holy Father Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad (India).

Reacting to the development, Fr. Victor Emmanuel T, Procurator and Chancellor Archdiocese of Hyderabad said, “It is a proud moment for the Archdiocese of Hyderabad and to Telugu States to hear the News that Most Rev Dr. Poola Anthony has been chosen as Cardinal by His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican today.  On behalf of all the Clergy, Religious and the Faithful, we congratulate His Eminence Most Rev. Dr. Poola Anthony and assure him of our Prayers.”