Duraisamy Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy
Encyclopedia
Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy (born February 5, 1924) is an India
n Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the Prefect
emeritus of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
in the Roman Curia
, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1985. His episcopical motto is Ædificare domum Dei which means To build the house of God.
He is the 4th cardinal from India and the first curial
cardinal of Asia outside of the Middle East.
, India
. He had his early education at Tindivanam and Cuddalore. He studied philosophy and theology at St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary
in Bangalore during 1946-1951. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on December 21, 1951 by Archbishop Auguste-Siméon Colas, MEP
, the then Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
. After studying at Loyola College
in Madras
(1952–1953), he was sent to Rome to pursue higher studies in the area of Canon Law at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
(1953–1956) from where he obtained a doctorate.
On returning to the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
he served as Secretary to the Bishop, Editor of the archdiocesan weekly "Sarva viyabhi" (சர்வ வியாபி), and was choir master at the Cathedral in Pondicherry
.
to Archbishop Ambrose Rayappan, edited the archdiocesan Tamil weekly Sarva Viyabhi (சர்வ வியாபி), and was Choir Master at the Cathedral from 1956 to 1962 before being appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Bangalore
and Titular Bishop
of Sozusa in Libya on July 2, 1962. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following August 22 from Archbishop Rayappan, with Bishops Rajarethinam Sundaram and Daniel Arulswamy serving as co-consecrators
. Lourdusamy later attended the Second Vatican Council
(Sessions 2, 3 and 4 as a Council Father). On November 9, 1964, he was made the Coadjutor Archbishop
of Bangalore, and then succeeded Thomas Pothacamury as Archbishop on January 11, 1968. He left India to serve in the Curial
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
in March 1971, and resigned as Archbishop of Bangalore on April 30. Lourdusamy was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and Vice Chancellor of the Urbaniana University on February 26, 1973.
created Lourdusamy Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria delle Grazie alle Fornaci fuori Porta Cavalleggeri in the consistory
of May 25, 1985; he is the first Tamil
to be raised to the rank of cardinal. Lourdusamy was named Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
on the following October 30, and later resigned the post on May 24, 1991. He became Cardinal Protodeacon (the senior Cardinal-Deacon) on April 5, 1993, and served as a special papal legate
to the funeral of Mother Teresa
on September 13, 1997. On April 5, 1993 was appointed protodeacon. He chose to become a Cardinal-Priest on January 29, 1996.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the Prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
emeritus of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
in the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1985. His episcopical motto is Ædificare domum Dei which means To build the house of God.
He is the 4th cardinal from India and the first curial
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
cardinal of Asia outside of the Middle East.
Biography
Lourdusamy was born in the Kalleri village, Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He had his early education at Tindivanam and Cuddalore. He studied philosophy and theology at St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary
St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary
St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary also known as St. Peter's Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and Theology or simply as St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary/Institute is a catholic major seminary located in Bangalore, India.-History:St...
in Bangalore during 1946-1951. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on December 21, 1951 by Archbishop Auguste-Siméon Colas, MEP
Paris Foreign Missions Society
The Society of Foreign Missions of Paris is a Roman Catholic missionary organization. It is not a religious order, but an organization of secular priests and lay persons dedicated to missionary work in foreign lands....
, the then Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore is an archdiocese located in the cities of Pondicherry and Cuddalore in India. The Archdiocese now celebrates its 125 years of being elevatd to the status of Archdiocese.-History:...
. After studying at Loyola College
Loyola College, Chennai
Loyola College is a Jesuit institution in Chennai, India. The college admits undergraduates and post-graduates and offers degrees in the liberal arts, sciences and commerce. It is an autonomous institution affiliated with the University of Madras.-History:...
in Madras
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
(1952–1953), he was sent to Rome to pursue higher studies in the area of Canon Law at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
(1953–1956) from where he obtained a doctorate.
On returning to the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore is an archdiocese located in the cities of Pondicherry and Cuddalore in India. The Archdiocese now celebrates its 125 years of being elevatd to the status of Archdiocese.-History:...
he served as Secretary to the Bishop, Editor of the archdiocesan weekly "Sarva viyabhi" (சர்வ வியாபி), and was choir master at the Cathedral in Pondicherry
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Puducherry
Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the cathedral mother church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. It is located in the Union territory of Pondicherry...
.
Bishop
On returning to India, Lourdusamy served as Archdiocesan Chancellor and private secretaryPersonal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
to Archbishop Ambrose Rayappan, edited the archdiocesan Tamil weekly Sarva Viyabhi (சர்வ வியாபி), and was Choir Master at the Cathedral from 1956 to 1962 before being appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Sozusa in Libya on July 2, 1962. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following August 22 from Archbishop Rayappan, with Bishops Rajarethinam Sundaram and Daniel Arulswamy serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. Lourdusamy later attended the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
(Sessions 2, 3 and 4 as a Council Father). On November 9, 1964, he was made the Coadjutor Archbishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Bangalore, and then succeeded Thomas Pothacamury as Archbishop on January 11, 1968. He left India to serve in the Curial
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
in March 1971, and resigned as Archbishop of Bangalore on April 30. Lourdusamy was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and Vice Chancellor of the Urbaniana University on February 26, 1973.
Cardinal
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
created Lourdusamy Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria delle Grazie alle Fornaci fuori Porta Cavalleggeri in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of May 25, 1985; he is the first Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
to be raised to the rank of cardinal. Lourdusamy was named Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
on the following October 30, and later resigned the post on May 24, 1991. He became Cardinal Protodeacon (the senior Cardinal-Deacon) on April 5, 1993, and served as a special papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
to the funeral of Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
on September 13, 1997. On April 5, 1993 was appointed protodeacon. He chose to become a Cardinal-Priest on January 29, 1996.
Trivia
- He is an elder brother of the priest and theologianTheologyTheology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
D. S. AmalorpavadassD. S. AmalorpavadassDuraiswami Simon Amalorpavadass was a third-world theologian who played a vital role in the renewal of life and mission of the Roman Catholic Church in India, particularly after Vatican II...
.
External links
- Biography
- Cardinal Lourdusamy on Cardinal rating
- Cardinal Lourdusamy on Catholic Hierarchy