Fr Clarence appointed as consultor to PCID by Pope Francis

Apr 10, 2014

VATICAN (Herald Malaysia): Pope Francis has appointed Fr Clarence Devadass as one of the consultors to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID). Fr Clarence is the secretary for the Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue for Malaysia.

He joins nine others who were appointed by Pope Francis on March 31.

The PCID is the central office of the Catholic Church for the promotion of interreligious dialogue in accordance with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, in particular the declaration Nostra Aetate.

There are three parts to the PCID, the executive body, made up of President, Secretary, Under-Secretary, bureau chief for Islam, staff members for Africa and Asia, a staff member for New Religious movements, an administrative assistant and support staff.

The PCID is composed of the Members of the Council, about 30 in number, Cardinals and Bishops, from different parts of the world. Every two or three years a Plenary Assembly is held in order to discuss important issues and to set guidelines for the work of the Council.

The PCID has about 50 advisors, called Consultors, specialists in religious studies or in the practice of interreligious dialogue, residing in all continents. They assist the PCID through their research, information and suggestions. Meetings of Consultors are held periodically, at a continental level.