Pope Francis on Sunday announced that he would create 14 new cardinals, which includes one of Goan origin, Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi.
Speaking to pilgrims and visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, the Pope announced he would create new cardinals at a Consistory on June 29 (feast of Saints Peter and Paul), reported the Vatican News.
Archbishop Joseph Coutts (72), who traces his roots to Aldona in Goa, will be the fifth cardinal of Goan origin, after Cardinal Valerian Gracias (Dramapur), Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro (Salvador do Mundo), Cardinal Ivan Dias (Velsao) and Cardinal Oswald Gracias (Orlim).
Born on July 21, 1945, Archbishop Coutts was ordained priest in Pakistan on January 9, 1971 and was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Hyderabad (Pakistan) on May 5, 1988.
He succeeded as Bishop of Hyderabad (Pakistan) on September 1, 1990 and served for eight years in the diocese of Hyderabad (Pakistan) before being appointed bishop of Faisalabad (Pakistan) on June 27, 1998.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad-Pakistan, as archbishop of Karachi-Pakistan on January 25, 2012.
Incidentally, Archbishop Coutts happens to be the cousin of Archbishop Anil Couto of New Delhi.
According to Vatican News, the Pope noted that the places from which the new cardinals come “expresses the universality of the Church, which continues to announce the merciful love of God to all men and women on earth”.
The men who will receive their red hats from the Pope include bishops from Iraq, Pakistan, Portugal, Peru, Madagascar, Italy and Japan. Pope Francis said their nominations “manifests the unbreakable bond between the See of Peter and the local Churches throughout the world”.
The names of the new Cardinals includes a Polish archbishop, three Italian archbishops, while Pope Francis also nominated to the College of Cardinals a retired archbishop of Mexico, a retired bishop of Bolivia and a priest from the Claretian order, all of whom, he said, “have distinguished themselves for their service to the Church”.
Goa Archbishop Ferrao hails new Goan cardinal
Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao has hailed the elevation of Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi as a new cardinal of the Catholic Church.
“It is a matter of great joy to know that we have the fifth cardinal of Goan origin in the person of Archbishop Joseph Coutts, who is the first cousin of Archbishop Anil Couto of New Delhi. The archdiocese of Goa and Daman congratulates him heartily,” said Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao.
Incidentally, both Archbishop Ferrao and Archbishop Coutts trace their origins to Aldona in Goa.
New cardinal, a great boost to people of Pakistan: Goan bishop
The creation of Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi as a new cardinal will give a great boost and strength to the courageous people of Pakistan, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and Goan Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas has said.
“It gives us great joy that one of the new Cardinals, Archbishop Joseph Coutts is of Indian Origin. We are grateful to the Holy Father for his attention to the suffering Church of Pakistan,” said Bishop Mascarenhas.
“Again and again, the Holy Father has shown us his love for the suffering and afflicted Churches. The creation of the Archbishop of Karachi will give a great boost and strength to the courageous people of the country.”
“The choice of a Pakistani Cardinal, the second after Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro, also of Indian origin, also further strengthens the bond between the Indian and Pakistani Churches and widens further the universal representation of the College of Cardinals,” Bishop Mascarenhas added.
Cardinal Coutts Eligible to Choose Pope’s Successor
Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi, a new cardinal of Goan origin who is under 80, will be eligible to participate in an eventual conclave to choose Pope Francis’s successor. In a message, General Secretary of CBCI said, “eleven of the new cardinals are under 80, making them eligible to participate in an eventual conclave to choose Francis’s successor.”
“The 11 new cardinals under the age of 80 — which includes Archbishop Coutts (72) — will be active participants in a future conclave. As of June 29, when the new cardinals are inducted, the total number of cardinals will be 227, of whom 126 will be under 80 years and able to vote for a new pope. That’s well above the traditional ceiling of 120 electors established under Blessed Pope Paul VI. This will be Francis’s fifth consistory after previous events in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Let us pray for the newly elected Cardinals,” said Bishop Mascarenhas.
Incidentally, Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi, will be the second Goan cardinal after Cardinal Oswald Gracias, to be eligible to participate in an eventual conclave to choose the pope’s successor.
(Courtesy: The Goan)