Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 19: Cardinal Ivan Dias, former Archbishop of Mumbai and Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, passed away in Rome on Monday June 19 at 8 pm, announced the Archdiocese of Bombay.
Cardinal Ivan Dias was born on 14 April, 1936 in Mumbai and was ordained for the Archdiocese of Bombay on December 8, 1958. He held a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome.
He entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 1964 and was posted to the Nordic countries, Indonesia, Madagascar, La Réunion, the Comorros, Mauritius and the Secretariat of State. On May 8, 1982, he was appointed titular Archbishop of Rusubisir and Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in Ghana, Togo and Benin, and received episcopal ordination on 19 June. He later served as Apostolic Nuncio in Korea (1987-91) and Albania (1991-97).
On November 8, 1996 he was appointed Archbishop of Bombay.
He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Saint Pope John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February, 2001, of the Title of Spirito Santo alla Ferratella (Holy Spirit at Ferratella).
Cardinal Ivan Dias was also President Delegate of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2001). He was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urbanian University from May 20, 2006 until May 10, 2011.
Funeral details are awaited.