International Edition of the Autobiography of Cardinal Oswald Gracias
Vatican 30 August 2022 (CCBI): “Called to Serve” the international edition of the autobiography of the Cardinal Oswald Gracias was released on 30 August, 2022 at Maria Bambina Hall, Vatican City by His Eminence Oscar Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and Coordinator the Council of Cardinals The first copies were handed over to His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, His Excellency Dr. Paulo Rufini, Prefect Dicastery for Communications and Mr. Peter Purdue. The autobiographical book was introduced by Mr. Nigel Fernandes, CEO of the ATC Publishers.
Speaking on the Occasion Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments complimented Cardinal Gracias for his immense contribution to the Universal Church especially as a respected confidante of the Pope Francis on Council of Cardinals. He complimented the Church in India for the speed with which the Church documents are being published.
New Asian Cardinals were felicitated on the occasion by Cardinal Gracias by presenting the copy of the Book of the Gospels. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão replying on behalf of the new Cardinals thanked Cardinal Gracias and said they would work with commitment in the service of the Church according to the vision of Pope Francis. The heads of the three individual Churches in India honoured Cardinal Gracias with an Indian shawl, icon and plaque.
The opening and closing prayers were led by Cardinal George Alencherry and Cardinal Cleemis respectively. The other dignitaries present included Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, Prefect Dicastery for Clergy, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of München und Freising, Germany, Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, England, Great Britain, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Indonesia, Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, Japan, Cardinal Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, Laos, Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Pakistan, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Cardinal Kriengsak Kovitvanit, Bangkok, Thailand, Cardinal Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva, East Timor, Abp Peter Machado of Bangalore, Bp. Joseph Thykattil of Gwalior and Bp. Thomas Vazhappilly, Bishop Emeritus of Mysore.
The officials of the Vatican Curia, the Indian Generals of the Religious Congregations in Rome, the close relatives of the new Cardinals, the officials of the Indian Priests in Rome attended the programme.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General, CCBI