Cardinal Oswald Gracias (centre) during the release of a book on his life. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão (second from left) was also present.
PANAJI
Describing Archbishop of Bombay Cardinal Oswald Gracias as a model shepherd serving the Catholic Church, Archbishop of Goa Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão on Tuesday said Cardinal Gracias has made a unique and singular contribution to the life and mission of the Church.
He was delivering the opening remarks at an event to felicitate Asia's six new cardinals and to release the international edition of the book “Called to Serve”, an autobiography of the Cardinal Oswald Gracias who traces his origin to Orlim-Salcete, at Maria Bambina Hall, Vatican City.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, who is president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), many newly-created Cardinals and several other Cardinals were present at the event, according to a report in the Vatican News.
Cardinal Ferrão, who is also president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), said all six new cardinals count on prayers of all present so that they might rise to the challenges of their new ministry.
Cardinal Ferrão said Cardinal Gracias, who celebrates the golden jubilee of his priesthood and the silver jubilee of his episcopal ordination, is a wonderful human person endowed with exceptional qualities of mind and heart.
Cardinal Gracias is a Christian who has learned to anchor his life in Christ, a bishop who continues to proclaim his faith in Christ enthusiastically according to his motto ‘To reconcile all things in Christ’, Cardinal Ferrão added.
Speaking further, Cardinal Ferrão said the archbishop of Bombay has been a model shepherd capable of sustaining the people of God in their life of faith and on the way of holiness.
"Everything he has done as an expert in Canon Law, his expertise as a priest, as a chancellor, as an auxiliary, as Archbishop and Cardinal has been to serve the Church. In each of these positions, Cardinal Oswald has made a unique and singular contribution to the life and mission of the Church," said Cardinal Ferrão, who was quoted in the Vatican News.
Speaking on behalf of the new Cardinals, Cardinal Ferrão said they would work with commitment in the service of the Church according to the vision of Pope Francis.
Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, praised the bishops of India as being “very special”.
“When you meet the bishops from India, they have a twinkle in their eye, and a spring in their step,” said Cardinal Roche, who described Cardinal Gracias as one of the most significant bishops in the Church.
In his remarks, Cardinal Gracias said he was proud of India’s two new Cardinals as well as all six new Asian Cardinals.
Among those present at the event included Cardinal Joseph Coutts of Pakistan, who traces his roots to Aldona, officials of the Vatican Curia, the Indian Generals of the Religious Congregations in Rome, close relatives of the new Cardinals and the officials of the Indian Priests in Rome.
