Papal advisor cardinal retires as Bombay archbishop

Jan 27, 2025

By Michael Gonsalves
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Oswald Gracias as the Archbishop of Bombay on Jan 25 and elevated Coadjutor Bishop John Rodrigues as his successor in India’s largest diocese.

Although retired from the archbishop’s office, Gracias continues serving on the Council of Cardinal Advisers, nicknamed Pope Francis' kitchen cabinet.

Gracias joined the Council of Cardinal Advisers in 2013 when Pope Francis established it and handpicked Gracias to be part of the nine-member team to advise him on revising the Roman Curia.

Gracias "was a giant of a man, and now as his successor, I have mighty big shoes to fill,” Rodrigues, 57, said in a Jan. 25 statement.

He thanked "Gracias for his dedicated service" to the archdiocese, the Church in India, and the Universal Church," adding that they are proud of him.

Rodrigues also urged his bishops, priests, religious men and women, and the Catholic community to work with the authorities and citizens “to further unity and true development in society.”

Pope Francis appointed Rodrigues as coadjutor bishop on Nov. 30, and his installation took place only last week on Jan.23.

Gracias, 80, said in a video message on Jan.25 that Pope Francis "has accepted my resignation as the Archbishop of Bombay."

He said he submitted his resignation five years ago, when he turned 75, the canonical retirement age. However, the Vatican did not accept it then.

He "reminded Rome about it recently,” Gracias said.

His successor "comes with great knowledge, competence, experience and holiness of life,” he added.

The archdiocese has scheduled a Mass to welcome the new archbishop on Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Besides serving as a member of the Council of Cardinal Advisers, he also served the regional Church.

Gracias was the president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, the national body of Indian bishops. He also led the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, a forum of India's Latin-rite bishops.

Rodrigues was born on Aug. 21, 1967, in a Mumbai suburb. His two elder brothers are priests: Father Luke Rodrigues is a Jesuit, and Father Savio Rodrigues belongs to the archdiocese.

After his ordination on April 18, 1998, he studied at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome and earned a licentiate in systematic theology.

He was named rector of St Pius X College in Mumbai but became the auxiliary bishop within a few weeks. He also served the archdiocese as secretary of the priests’ council from 2010 to 2013 and as coordinator for the Year of Faith in 2013-2013.

Pope Francis named him the auxiliary bishop of Bombay on May 16, 2013, and ten years later sent him to Poona as its bishop.

“John has always been a brilliant person,” his elder brother, Jesuit Luke Rodrigues, told the media.

“It was through the example of our mother Corinne Rodrigues, who always reminded us of God's presence, creating an atmosphere of prayer in our home, and weaving bonds with other priests, that we felt our call to religious life,” Rodrigues told the media in an interview in 2017.--ucanews.com