MUMBAI
As 133 cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to elect the new pope, it will be a historic moment for two among them who hail from Aldona - Archbishop of Goa Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão and Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi Cardinal Joseph Coutts.
With cardinals from 70 countries under the age of 80 years set to elect the 267 successor of Peter, this conclave is reported to be the most geographically diverse in the Church's 2,000-year history.
Cardinal Ferrão (72) is not just the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), but is also President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC).
He was made cardinal by Pope Francis on August 27, 2022. On October 23, 2024, the Synod of Bishops elected Cardinal Ferrão a member of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod.
Cardinal Coutts (79), who also traces his roots to Aldona, had recently visited Goa in January and had participated in the Feast of St Joseph Vaz in Sancoale.
He was created Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of June 28, 2018 and he also served as member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Vatican.
Cardinal Coutts served as Metropolitan Archbishop of Karachi from January 25, 2012 until his retirement in February 11, 2021. Besides, Cardinal Coutts served as president of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference from 2011 until 2017, and was also Chairman of Caritas Pakistan.
Goa has produced about 60 bishops and cardinals for India, Pakistan, Africa and the USA, and the village of Aldona has been notable for having been the native place of no fewer than seven prelates, Cardinal Coutts, Cardinal Ferrão, Archbishop of Delhi Anil Couto (the first cousin of Cardinal Coutts), Archbishop-Emeritus of Karachi Evarist Pinto, Bishop of Columbus, Ohio-USA Earl K Fernandes, the late Auxiliary Bishop of Mumbai Ferdinand J Fonseca and the late Bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi Anthony Lobo.
In an earlier interview to Catholic News Service (CNS), Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira, secretary to Cardinal Ferrão, explained that Goa’s abundant priestly vocations stem in part from the practice of families in the region traditionally “offering one child to God.”
Goa has produced bishops for a number of countries because of the strong sense of faith instilled in families in the region.
Aldona has been a prominent location in Goa for the Catholic faith.
The Franciscans initiated their mission in Aldona by building a chapel in Coimavaddo in 1569. This was the beginning of their ministry in Aldona, where they aimed to foster a Christian community.
With the dedication of the Franciscans and fervour of the Aldonkars, Christianity flourished in the village, leading to the construction of a new, more central St Thomas Church in 1596 at its current location.
