Indian Cardinal Pimenta dead at 93

July 22, 2013

Cardinal Simon Ignatius Pimenta, who served as Archbishop of Mumbai (Bombay) from 1978 to 1996, died on July 19 in a residence for elderly priests. He was 93.

Born in 1920 in a suburb of Mumbai, Cardinal Pimenta attended Catholic schools, was ordained a diocesan priest in 1949, and received a doctorate in canon law from Pontifical Urbaniana University in 1954. Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay in 1971 and coadjutor archbishop in 1977, he acceded to the see the following year.

He served three terms as the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. Blessed John Paul II created him a cardinal in 1988, and two years later he served as one of the three presidents-delegate at the Synod of Bishops on priestly formation.

“He was a nice, holy person who will be remembered for his giving, generous ways,” recalled Bombay Auxiliary Bishop Savio Fernandes.

With the death of Cardinal Pimenta, there are now 203 living members of the College of Cardinals, of whom 112 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible to participate in a papal election.

 

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Further information:

• Cardinal Pimenta of Mumbai dies (Vatican Radio)
• Archbishop emeritus of Bombay, Cardinal Simon Pimenta passes away at 93 (Daily News and Analysis)
• Biographical notes (Holy See Press Office)