PANAJI
Pope Leo XIV on Monday appointed a priest of Goan origin as a member of the International Theological Commission (ITC), an advisory body established to assist the Holy See in examining important theological questions pertaining to the Catholic Church.
Fr Gilbert Delima, who traces his roots to Aldona, is a Diocesan Priest of the Archdiocese of Bombay and presently serves as Rector of St Pius X College, the Archdiocesan Seminary. He is also Executive Secretary of the Commission for Theology and Doctrine of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).
When contacted, Fr Delima admitted he was “too stunned for words” on receiving news of this appointment.
“I felt deeply honoured with this appointment and at the same time, felt so unworthy to receive the same. I asked the Lord for his strength and the Spirit for his wisdom to undertake the responsibilities that this post would carry. Although our distinct role as members of the ITC has not been defined, I do hope I can make a small contribution to the ITC as an Asian theologian,” said Fr Delima.
To a query on his Goan identity, Fr Delima said he hails from Carona, Aldona.
“Our house was part of the Parish of St Thomas, Aldona, and we used to participate at the Mass at St Rita Chapel, Carona. As a child, I would be thrilled when given an opportunity to serve at the Novena Masses, which led to the feast of St Rita on May 22!”
Fr Delima has completed his doctorate in Systematic Theology from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome, with a Summa-cum-laude. He has worked as a resident professor at St Pius X College, Goregaon, Mumbai, from 1985 to 2011 and from 2019 onwards. He was also the Dean of Studies at St Pius College (2006-2011) and from 2024 has been appointed Rector of St Pius X College.
Fr Delima was the Chairperson of the Conference of Diocesan Priests of the Archdiocese of Bombay (2009 to 2012). He was the convener of the Ecumenical Commission of the Archdiocese of Bombay (2006-2019) and also an executive member of the Interreligious Dialogue Commission of the Archdiocese of Bombay (2006-2012).
Fr Delima served as the Director of the Permanent Diaconate Committee, Archdiocese of Bombay, from its inception in 2006 to 2026, and the Vice-President of the International Diaconate Centre, Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Germany, from 2016 to 2024. He has authored books, articles and read papers at national and international symposia.
ROLE OF ITC
Asked to comment on the role of the ITC, Fr Delima said the advisory body was established by Pope Paul VI in 1969 to assist the Holy See, particularly the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), in examining important theological questions.
“Its primary purpose is to promote theological reflection that serves the Church's teaching mission, responds to contemporary challenges, and contributes to the development of Catholic doctrine,” said Fr Delima.
“The Churches of Asia can make a distinctive contribution to the work of the ITC by bringing to universal Catholic theology the wisdom of ancient religious traditions, the experience of living in religiously plural societies, the perspectives of the poor and marginalised, and the insights of local Churches that are often a minority within their cultural contexts.”
Fr Delima clarified that the contribution of Asia is not simply to provide regional examples for a theology developed elsewhere.
“It is to help the universal Church recognise that theology becomes more catholic when the lived faith, cultural wisdom, spiritual experience and struggles of all the Churches are allowed to shape theological reflection,” said Fr Delima.
“This does not mean replacing a Western theology with an Asian one. It means developing a genuinely intercultural Catholic theology in which traditions learn from one another under the light of the Gospel.”
