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The Prefect emeritus of the Pontifical Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples and Archbishop emeritus of Bombay, Cardinal Ivan
Dias, passed away in Rome on the afternoon of Monday, 19 June after a long battle
with illness. The Indian cardinal was 81
years old.
Upon learning the news, Pope Francis sent a telegram to the late Cardinals brother,
expressing his condolences and his gratitude for Cardinal Dias “years of
faithful service to the Apostolic See, especially his contribution to the
spiritual and physical reconstruction of the suffering Church in Albania and
the missionary zeal demonstrated in his work as Prefect of the Congregation for
the Evangelization of Peoples”. The
Pontiff added, “I likewise unite my prayers to those of the faithful of the
Archdiocese of Bombay, where the pastoral concern and broad apostolic vision
that marked his service as Archbishop are fondly remembered. In union of prayer with all who mourn his
passing in the sure hope of the Resurrection, I commend the soul of this wise
and gentle pastor to the merciful love of God our heavenly Father and cordially
impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Lord”.
Cardinal Dias was born on 14 April, 1936 in Mumbai, India
and was ordained in the Archdiocese of Bombay on 8 December, 1958. On 8 May 1982, he was appointed titular
Archbishop of Rusubisir and Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in Ghana, Togo and Benin, and
received episcopal ordination on 19 June of the same year. After serving as the
pontifical representative in South Korea (1987-1991) and in Albania
(1991-1997), on 8 November 1996 he was transferred to the Archbishop”s seat of
residence in Bombay, an office which he kept until he renounced pastoral
government of the Indian Archdiocese on 20 May 2006. It was on this day that he
was nominated Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of
Peoples. He held that position until 10
May 2011. Pope John Paul II
had created and proclaimed him Cardinal in the Consistory of 21 February, 2001,
giving him the Title of Spirito Santo alla Ferratella.
The funeral for Cardinal Dias is to be celebrated in the Vatican
Basilica by Cardinal Deacon Angelo Sodano in the afternoon of Wednesday, 21
June. Pope Francis, at the conclusion of
the funeral, will preside
the rite of ultima commendatio and the valedictio. He is to be buried in the Chapel
of Propaganda Fide at Rome”s Verano cemetary.
