PANJIM: Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai on Sunday hosted a reception for His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao and also felicitated him at the Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho and representatives of the Church, NGOs and other religious institutions were present.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that it is for the first time in India that a spiritual leader has been elevated to Cardinal.
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho said, “It may be destiny, why not Pope? It may be Goa’s destiny to have a Pope. We may be one step away.”
Replying to his felicitation, Cardinal Ferrao said, “Under my name, I will always put India first. Our first identity is Indian. We are Indian first even in Goa even when it was under colonial rulers for centuries. We always remained Goans whatever may be our religion, language and culture.”
Cardinal Ferrao appreciated the Governor for his initiative to visit various villages across the State to know our state and build bridges.
