Pontiff Francis appoints our own Goan Bishop Filipe as Prince of the Church, aren't we blessed! On August 27 at the Vatican, Bishop Filipe Neri Ferrao will become the first-ever archbishop of Goa to be elevated to the Cardinalate in 465 years, which is a huge moment not only for Aldona, but for the whole of Goa and Daman. It also means an added religious event to celebrate on this remarkable day like any feast. Archbishop Filipe, born on January 20, 1953, an Indian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the Archbishop of Goa and Daman since 2004, was ordained as priest on October 28, 1979. Bishop Filipe will be the first Cardinal from Goa since an episcopal was established in 1533, and note that the Catholic Church currently has only four serving Cardinals in India. It is important to know that Episcopate is the highest degree of the sacrament of Holy orders and the Cardinalate, on the other hand, is an administrative degree that makes the subject an elector of the next Supreme Pontiff -- what a honour and pride for Goa!
