Menin Rodrigues, a Karachi Goan community, city historian and communications consultant presently settled in Toronto, has written a book on the ‘Life and Legacy of Joseph Cardinal Cordeiro’ (1918-1994) of Pakistan, which has been published in Karachi.
Born in Mumbai on January 19, 1918, Cordeiro moved with his family to Karachi as an eight-year-old, lived in Cincinnatus Town (now Garden East), read at St Patrick’s School and Oxford, was ordained a priest on August 24, 1946, elevated as Archbishop on May 7, 1958, created a Cardinal on March 5, 1973, and died in Karachi on February 11, 1994.
“I grew up at a time when he was the head of the Catholic Church in Pakistan and was truly inspired by his works. The 230-page hardbound keepsake document is to preserve his distinctive legacy,” said Rodrigues.
The book covers chapters on the Cardinal’s family and formative years, education and sports, priestly life, archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan’s first cardinal, inviting a friend (Pope Saint John Paul II) to Karachi, returns to his Father, his memoirs (lessons of a lifetime), his legacy, recollections, random thoughts, and a timeline. The book is embellished with an assortment of exclusive photographs.
Cardinal Cordeiro was one of the first non-Italian cardinals to be spotlighted as a ‘papabile’ candidate for being elected as Pope after the two conclaves in 1978 following the death of Pope Paul VI on August 6, 1978. The first conclave was held on August 25-26, 1978 and soon after the sudden death of Pope John Paul, the second conclave was on October 14-16, 1978. Cardinal Cordeiro participated in both.
The international TIME Magazine in its issue of August 21, 1978, published a cover story ‘In Search of a Pope’ and gave a detailed account of the process of electing a pope, mentioning several ‘papabili’ candidates in a variety of circumstances. “The number of papabile – possible Popes – is unusually large, and the final choice is as unpredictable as it is critical for the future of Roman Catholicism and its 683 million adherents…would Romans applaud as enthusiastically for a Pakistani or a Canadian to be borne down the main aisle of St Peter's as they would for one of their own?”
Later on October 16, 1978, TIME Magazine in another article, ‘Religion – A Light That Left Us Amazed’, wrote “Last week speculation also ran to names rarely heard before: Paulo Evaristo Arns, 57, Brazil's brave champion of human rights; Joseph Cordeiro, 60, of Pakistan, who exudes saintly simplicity and concern for the poor; and Poland's Karol Wojtyla, 58, who is a strong leader in a hostile environment - and speaks fluent Italian.”
Cardinal Cordeiro was a learned and influential visionary; he was the first local priest to be appointed as Archbishop of Karachi in 1958, and spearheaded the Catholic Church in Pakistan for 36 years (1958-1994). He was head of several Curia committees in Rome.
Reviewing the book in Karachi, Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi, Evarist Pinto, said, “I have gone through the Book “Life & Legacy of Joseph Cardinal Cordeiro” and find it both interesting and instructive. I congratulate you on the wonderful work done. Thank you for your labour of love to put so much matter together in one volume. Indeed, it will be a legacy for the coming generations. The future readers will pick up the Book with pride and see the achievements of those who have gone before us with pride.”
Andrew M Greely in his book “The Making of the Popes 1978” in his opening section ‘Cast of Characters’ (Page 2) lists 34 cardinals who were at the forefront of the 1978 conclave: “Cordeiro, Joseph – born 1918, archbishop of Karachi in Pakistan, a small Catholic diocese in a country of several million people; the most influential and outspoken of the Asian cardinals.”
When Mother Teresa came to Pakistan on October 27, 1991, she spoke to a packed St Patrick’s Cathedral and said, “I have no gold or silver to offer you, but I give you, my sisters. If you see someone dying on the streets, bring them to my sisters for care.” Cardinal Cordeiro who was present on the occasion asked the people why they had come to see Mother Teresa, he said, “If it was to satisfy curiosity, it was sad, God has chosen Mother Teresa to do great things for the world; be a Mother Teresa, and then I can assure you that we will change this world.”
The book is a limited-edition document for private distribution and sale, proceeds of which are dedicated to the ‘Cardinal Cordeiro Endowment Fund’ in the care of the Archbishop of Karachi, Bishop’s House, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Karachi.
The book is available for sale at the sisters of St Paul’s Bookstore in Karachi, Benny Vaz (bvaz2103@yahoo.com) in Karachi, and the author (menin100@gmail.com) in Toronto, Canada.
