Team Herald
PANJIM: Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, along with priests, religious and the faithful of the Archdiocese, has expressed deep regret on the passing away of Cardinal Ivan Dias, and described him as a great son of the Church and an outstanding son of the Goan soil.
“Cardinal Ivan leaves a memory full of esteem for the precious service he rendered to the Church, both as a Priest and Bishop of Bombay and as a diplomat and head of one the most important departments of the Vatican administration, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples,” Archbishop Ferrao said.
He said that in his last capacity, he was of great service to the Church in India and the Archdiocese thanks the Almighty for the great gift that He gave in the person of Cardinal Dias. “We also feel proud of the fact that his family roots are in Goa, which he loved to visit and where his close relatives continue to live,” Archbishop Ferrao said.
He added, “We take this opportunity to extend our deep condolences to Cardinal Oswald Gracias and the Church of Bombay which he so ably leads. Our condolences are also to Cardinal Ivan’s family members, in Mumbai, Goa and across the world.”
Expressing his condolences, Bishop Allwyn Baretto of the Sindhudurg Diocese said that Cardinal Dias death was a great shock. He said he was aware that the Cardinal was ill with high diabetes but never expected that death would knock at his door so soon.
Although he looked very strict, Baretto said that Cardinal Dias was a simple and loving man. And on his visit to Rome, during his encounter with him, he said that he loved to speak Konkani and would conclude his conversation by saying ‘Mog asum dhi’.
Extending his deepest sympathies to the bereaved family, Baretto said, “May God bless his soul”. Cardinal Dias passed away in Rome on June 19, at 8 pm.
The funeral rites will be held on Wednesday, at 3 pm (Rome Time) corresponding to 6.30 pm IST. The last funeral rite will be officiated by His Holiness Pope Francis.
