Pope announces 21 officials to become cardinals, 2 from India

Pope Francis said on Sunday he will elevate 21 church officials to the rank of cardinal in a ceremony at the Vatican this summer.

Among those tapped by the pontiff to receive the prestigious red hat will be two prelates from India and one each from Mongolia, Ghana, Nigeria, Singapore, East Timor, Paraguay and Brazil -in keeping with Francis' determination to have church leaders reflect the global face of the Catholic church.

Francis read out his choices at the end of his traditional Sunday greetings to the public in St. Peter's Square.

WHO ARE THE TWO OFFICIALS FROM INDIA

Father Ferrao was born in Aldona village near Panaji on January 20, 1953 and began his religious studies in the Seminary of Our Lady in Saligao and then went to the Papal Seminary in Pune, a senior official from the Archbishop's Palace in Panaji, Goa said on Sunday.

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He graduated in Philosophy and Theology and is fluent in Konkani, English, Portuguese, Italian, French and German, the official added.

Fr Ferrao was ordained as a priest on October 28, 1979 and, on December 12, 2003, he was consecrated as Archbishop of Goa and Daman by Pope John Paul II after the then Archbishop Rev Fr Raul Goncalves resigned.

Archbishop Anthony Poola, 60, was born on November 15, 1961, in Poluru in Kurnool diocese. He was ordained priest on February 20, 1992 and was appointed bishop of Kurnool on February 8, 2008. He was installed on April 19, 2008. He is the chairman of the youth commission in Andhra Pradesh Bishops’ Conference, Union of Catholic News reported.

On November 19, 2020 Rev. Anthony Poola was appointed as the Archbishop of Hyderabad.

16 on the new cardinals will be younger than 80 and thus eligible to vote for the next pontiff in secret conclave.

Other new cardinals hail from France and from San Diego, California, while three are prelates who currently hold top positions at the Vatican.

The Pope said he will conduct the consistory, as the ceremony to elevate churchmen to cardinal's rank is known, on August 27th.