Oswald Gracias

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Oswald Cardinal Gracias
Church positions
See Bombay
Title Cardinal Archbishop of Bombay
Period in office October 14, 2006 — present
Successor incumbent
Previous post Archbishop of Agra
Created cardinal November 24, 2007
Personal
Date of birth December 24, 1944
Place of birth Mumbai, India
Styles of
Oswald Cardinal Gracias
Reference style His Eminence
Spoken style Your Eminence
Informal style Cardinal
See Bombay


Oswald Cardinal Gracias (born December 24, 1944) is an Indian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Archbishop of Bombay, having been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on October 14, 2006, and was raised to the cardinalate in 2007.

[edit] Biography

Oswald Gracias was born in Bombay (modern-day Mumbai) to Jervis and Aduzinda Gracias. He completed his school studies at St. Michael’s School in Mahim and joined college at the Jesuit run St. Xavier's College,Mumbai. After a year, he entered the Seminary of St. Pius X in Bombay, where he studied philosophy and theology. Gracias was ordained to the priesthood by Valerian Cardinal Gracias (no relation) on December 20, 1970. From 1971 to 1976, he served as Chancellor and secretary to Bishop Joseph Rodericks, SJ, of Jamshedpur.

Gracias then furthered his studies at Rome, attending the Pontifical Urbaniana University from 1976 to 1982; he obtained a doctorate in canon law, a diploma in jurisprudence. Upon his return to Bombay, he was named chancellor, judge of the metropolitan tribunal, and judicial vicar. In 1991, Gracias was made archdiocesan consultor. He also served as a visiting professor to the seminaries of Bombay, Poona, and Bangalore, as well as serving as President of the Canon Law Society of India.

On June 28, 1997, Gracias was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay and Titular Bishop of Bladia by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 16 from Archbishop Ivan Dias, with Bishops Ferdinand Fonseca and Bosco Penha serving as co-consecrators. Gracias was later named Archbishop of Agra on September 7, 2000, and Archbishop of Bombay on October 14, 2006. He also served as Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), and is currently the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishop in India(Latin rite)

On October 17, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would elevate Gracias and twenty-two other prelates to the College of Cardinals. At the consistory in St. Peter's Basilica on November 24, 2007, he was created Cardinal Priest of S. Paolo della Croce a "Corviale".

On 20th February 2008 Cardinal Gracias was elected 1st Vice President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India(CBCI) of which had earlier served as Secretary General.

Cardinal Gracias in addition to his duties as Archbishop is a member of various offices of the Curia. In May 2008 Pope Benedict named Cardinal Gracias as a member of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.

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Preceded by
Ivan Cardinal Dias		 Archbishop of Bombay
14 October 2006–incumbent		 Succeeded by
incumbent