Indian Cardinal Lourdusamy dead at 90

June 02, 2014

Cardinal D. Simon Lourdusamy, the retired prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, died in Rome on June 1 at the age of 90.

Born in Kalleri, India, and ordained to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Pondicherry in 1951, the future cardinal was named an auxiliary bishop of Bangalore in 1962. He became the coadjutor archbishop in 1964, and succeeded to the head of the Bangalore archdiocese in 1968. In 1971 he was appointed secretary of the Congregation for Evangelization, and in 1985 named prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, holding that post until his resignation in 1991 at the age of 67. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in 1985.

In a message of condolence, sent to deceased prelate’s native Archdiocese of Pondicherry, Pope Francis spoke of Cardinal Lourdusamy’s “priestly life spent in spreading the Gospel first in India and subsequently in service to the universal Church in numerous capacities.”

With the death of Cardinal Lourdisamy there are now 214 members of the College of Cardinals, of whom 118 are eligible to vote in a papal election.

 

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Further information:

• Death of Cardinal Lourdusamy, he was Secretary of Propaganda Fide and President of the PMS (Fides)
• Pope Francis offers condolences over death of Cardinal Lourdusamy (Vatican Radio)