Mangalore: Archbishop Madtha's Funeral at Belthangady on Dec 15
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)
With Inputs from Our Special Correspondent, Bangalore
Mangalore, Dec 13: The mortal remains of papal envoy to Ivory Coast, Archbishop Dr Ambrose Madtha, who was killed in an accident in Ivory Coast last week, will arrive in Mangalore by a special flight on Friday December 14 at 10 am, said Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza.
Addressing a press meet at the Bishop's House here on Thursday December 13, he said the body will be brought to India by a special flight commissioned by the Ivory Coast president, and will be accompanied by 11 bishops. The delegation will be led by SE Sign Charles Koffi Diby, minister of foreign affairs, Ivory Coast.
A special Mass will be held at Rosario Cathedral at 4 pm for the departed soul of the Archbishop.
On Saturday December 15, the mortal remains will be taken to Archbishop Madtha's hometown Beltangady, and at 10 am the last rites will be performed and the burial will take place at Holy Redeemer Church, Beltangady.
Pope Benedict XVI and Vatican state secretary Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone have conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family, the Bishop said.
Bishop Dr Aloysius also said that anyone could take part in the Mass and pay their respects to the Archbishop.
Fr Denis Moras Prabhu and Marcel Monteiro were present at the press meet.
Later in the evening on December 13, Nuncio of India Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio arrived in the city. He was received by Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Fr Denis Prabhu, Fr William Menezes and others.
Archbishop Madtha was travelling back from the North-Western town of Odienne after attending an ordination ceremony in the country’s west on Saturday 8 evening when his car collided with another vehicle and he died on the spot.
Archbishop Madtha was born in Belthangady in 1955 to late Joseph Madtha and Mary Madtha. He was the brother of Fr Henry Madtha and Rev Srs Theresa Madtha SCB and Bridget Madtha FMM.
He was ordained a priest in 1982.
Archbishop Ambrose Madtha entered diplomatic service of Vatican in June 1990 and had served apostolic nunciatures in Ghana, EI Salvador, Georgia, Albania and Republic of China (Taiwan).
He became the doyen of the Ivorian diplomatic corps after arriving in 2008.