Archibishop of Mumbai Oswald Gracious named new cardinal

Mumbai, Oct 17 (UNI) Pope Benedict XVI, spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Christians, today named Archibishop of Mumbai Oswald Gracias as a cardinal among 23 new cardinals, including 18 who would be able to enter a secret conclave to elect his successor.

The cardinals will be installed in a ceremony known as a 'Consistory' on November 24.

Cardinal-elect Gracious is among the 18 Cardinals, who have been selected to enter a secret conclave to elect the successor of Benedict in the event of the Pope's death. All the New 'Cardinal elect' are under 80.

Rev Anthony Chiranghat, spokesperson for Archibishop of Mumbai, said '' The news of Archibishop Gracious being named as Cardinal is a matter of joy for all the Catholics, people of Mumbai and the whole of India''.

Born on December 24, 1944, Cardinal-elect Gracious was ordained as a Priest of Bombay in 1970. In 1997, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay and in the same year, he was ordianed as Titular Bishop of Bombay, Bladia (Titular See) or Bladiensis.

In 2000, Cardinal Gracious was appointed Archibishop of Agra in Uttar Pradesh and was subsequently installed as Archibishop of Mumbai.

UNI