The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, died early on easter Monday. Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Ferrell confirmed the death.
He was 88
Following the pontiff's death, the conclave of cardinals will shortly begin to meet. To determine who will now carry this sacred responsibility, cardinals from around the globe will go to the Vatican in the following days. Even though there are 252 cardinals worldwide, only 135 of them can vote in the pastoral election because a regulation requires a cardinal to be younger than 80. The country with the most cardinals is italy (51).
Cardinal George Alencherry (80) of kerala, Cardinal Oswald Gracias (80) of Maharashtra, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao (72) of goa, Cardinal Cleemis Baselios (64), Cardinal Anthony Poola (63), and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad (51) of kerala are the six cardinals who call india home.
Only four of the nation's six cardinals will be eligible for the upcoming election. While Cardinal Alencherry only attained this milestone two days ago (April 19), Cardinal Gracias celebrated his 80th birthday on christmas Eve last year. As a result, he will not be attending the conclave.
Cardinal Cleemis Baselios
As the first Cardinal of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, a relatively new branch of the Catholic Church that was established 95 years ago, Cardinal Baselios made history. He was born in Thiruvalla, in the pathanamthitta district of kerala, on june 15, 1959. He was 53 years old when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him a Cardinal in 2012, making him the youngest person to receive the title.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao
In 2022, Pope Francis ordained Cardinal Ferrao into the college of Cardinals. He has been the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of goa and Daman since 2004. He was born in Mapusa, goa, on january 20, 1953. Prior to his appointment, Cardinal Ferrao served as the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), making him the sixth Goan to be named a cardinal.
Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad
Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Ferrao a few months ago in december 2024, making him the most recent in india to get the honor. With a present age of 51, Cardinal Koovakad is among the youngest cardinals. He belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and was born in Chethipuzha, kerala, on august 11, 1973. In addition, Cardinal Koovakad served as the current prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, which was established by Pope Paul XVI in 1964 to foster interreligious communication.
Cardinal Anthony Poola
Blessed by Pope Francis, Cardinal Poola joined the college of Cardinals in august 2022 together with Cardinal Ferrao. He was born in Poluru, Andhra Pradesh, on november 15, 1961, and when he was unable to pay for secondary school, the missionaries helped him. The first Dalit to be ordained as a Cardinal is Cardinal Poola. He is the Metropolitan Archbishop of hyderabad at the moment.
He was 88
Following the pontiff's death, the conclave of cardinals will shortly begin to meet. To determine who will now carry this sacred responsibility, cardinals from around the globe will go to the Vatican in the following days. Even though there are 252 cardinals worldwide, only 135 of them can vote in the pastoral election because a regulation requires a cardinal to be younger than 80. The country with the most cardinals is italy (51).
Cardinal George Alencherry (80) of kerala, Cardinal Oswald Gracias (80) of Maharashtra, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao (72) of goa, Cardinal Cleemis Baselios (64), Cardinal Anthony Poola (63), and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad (51) of kerala are the six cardinals who call india home.
Only four of the nation's six cardinals will be eligible for the upcoming election. While Cardinal Alencherry only attained this milestone two days ago (April 19), Cardinal Gracias celebrated his 80th birthday on christmas Eve last year. As a result, he will not be attending the conclave.
Cardinal Cleemis Baselios
As the first Cardinal of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, a relatively new branch of the Catholic Church that was established 95 years ago, Cardinal Baselios made history. He was born in Thiruvalla, in the pathanamthitta district of kerala, on june 15, 1959. He was 53 years old when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him a Cardinal in 2012, making him the youngest person to receive the title.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao
In 2022, Pope Francis ordained Cardinal Ferrao into the college of Cardinals. He has been the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of goa and Daman since 2004. He was born in Mapusa, goa, on january 20, 1953. Prior to his appointment, Cardinal Ferrao served as the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), making him the sixth Goan to be named a cardinal.
Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad
Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Ferrao a few months ago in december 2024, making him the most recent in india to get the honor. With a present age of 51, Cardinal Koovakad is among the youngest cardinals. He belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and was born in Chethipuzha, kerala, on august 11, 1973. In addition, Cardinal Koovakad served as the current prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, which was established by Pope Paul XVI in 1964 to foster interreligious communication.
Cardinal Anthony Poola
Blessed by Pope Francis, Cardinal Poola joined the college of Cardinals in august 2022 together with Cardinal Ferrao. He was born in Poluru, Andhra Pradesh, on november 15, 1961, and when he was unable to pay for secondary school, the missionaries helped him. The first Dalit to be ordained as a Cardinal is Cardinal Poola. He is the Metropolitan Archbishop of hyderabad at the moment.
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