Panaji: In a historic moment for the archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Pope Francis inducted Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, 69, into the College of Cardinals in Rome on Saturday evening.
At the Archbishop’s House at Altinho, Panaji, vicar general Jose Remedious Fernandes, who is presently in charge of the archdiocese in the absence of the archbishop, unfurled a special flag of the Vatican to express joy and solidarity with the universal Church on the occasion. This flag is unfurled only on special occasions when an event concerns the archdiocese and universal Church.
“It is a joyful moment for all Goans that the son of our soil has been elevated to such a great position of service. It is also a great responsibility that is placed on the shoulders of our archbishop to collaborate with the Pope to serve the universal Church. As Goans, it is another opportunity to contribute to the universal Church. We need to pray for him and collaborate with him in any way possible to help him in discharging his duties,” Fernandes said.
Cardinal Ferrao and Cardinal Anthony Poola, archbishop of Hyderabad and the first Dalit to be appointed cardinal, are among 20 new cardinals from across the globe who along with the other cardinals, are now the Pope’s primary collaborators. They have taken the count of cardinals in India to six.
The solemn ceremony, known as a consistory for the creation of cardinals, was witnessed first-hand by a dozen clergy who travelled from Goa as well as family members of Ferrao who flew in from around India and the world to Rome.
Thousands of other faithful watched the ceremony livestreamed.
The Cardinal-designates took their ‘oath of obedience’ after which Pope Francis conferred each with the biretta (red cap), the Cardinal ring and assigned them their title and rank. Pope Francis was also seen engaging in a short private dialogue with each new cardinal after conferring them with the title.
“The archdiocese experienced prayerful, joyful and proud moments as their very own Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao was created a cardinal by Pope Francis. His eminence is the first cardinal of the archdiocese in its 465-year history,” said director of the diocesan centre for social communications media, Fr Barry Cardozo.
In other parts of Goa, churches conducted prayer services and prayed during Mass for the new cardinal.
FacebookTwitterInstagramKOO APPYOUTUBE