Oswald Gracias

Oswald Gracias (born 24 December 1944) is an Goan Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He serves as Archbishop of Bombay, having been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 14 October 2006, and was raised to the cardinalate in 2007.
==Biography==
===Early life and ordination===
Gracias was born in Bombay (modern-day Mumbai) to Jervis and Aduzinda Gracias (a native of Orlim, Goa). He recognizes himself as a Goan Catholic. 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 20 December 1970. From 1971 to 1976, he served as Chancellor and secretary to Bishop Joseph Rodericks, SJ, of Jamshedpur.
===Diocesan work===
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.
===Bishop and Archbishop===
On 28 June 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 16 September from Archbishop Ivan Dias, with Bishops Ferdinand Fonseca and Bosco Penha serving as co-consecrators. Gracias was later named Archbishop of Agra on 7 September 2000, and Archbishop of Bombay on 14 October 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)
===Cardinal===
On 17 October 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 24 November 2007, he was created Cardinal-Priest of S. Paolo della Croce a "Corviale".
On 20 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.
==External links==
*Archdiocese of Bombay
*Bio-data of Archbishop Oswald Gracias of Bombay Named Cardinal on Oct 17, 2007
*Bio of Cardinal Gracias
==References==
Category:1944 births
Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops
Category:21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops
Category:Living people
Category:Indian Roman Catholic archbishops
Category:Indian cardinals
Category:Indian Roman Catholics
Category:People from Mumbai
Category:People from Goa
Category:Cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI
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