MARGAO: It was a proud moment for Goans, in the State as Archbishop of Goa, and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao was on Saturday inducted among the 20 cardinals from across the world by Pope Francis during a Consistory for the creation of Cardinals at St Peter’s Basilica at The Vatican.
The new cardinals promised their allegiance and obedience to the Pontiff and his successors “even unto the outpouring of blood.”
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After more than four centuries for the first time the patriarch of the East Indies; the title of Cardinal has been bestowed on the Archbishop Ferrao as he was elevated into the College of Cardinals on Saturday at the Ordinary Public Consistory.
As soon as he was inducted as a Cardinal, bountiful wishes came pouring from all corners and all sections of society in Goa. People and clergy were overjoyed.
During the rites, Pope Francis placed the red biretta on the new Cardinals, gave them their ring, and assigned them their titles.
It began with the singing of “Tu es Petrus” and words of thanksgiving to the Holy Father by the Cardinal first on the list. The Pope pronounced the formula of creation of new cardinals, who promised their allegiance and obedience to the Pontiff and his successors “even unto the outpouring of blood.”
Archbishop Ferrao, the Cardinal from Goa approached the seat of the Pope to receive on his knees the symbols of the cardinalate: red skullcap, biretta, ring, the bull assigning the title and rank.
Thanksgiving masses and communitarian prayer services were held in every Church and Chapels in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman to celebrate the event in history in the East Indies.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao is among the 20 new Cardinals from around the globe who will serve as the Pope’s top advisors, as a close collaborator of the pontiff, and has the right to vote in the next conclave.
