Latest news with #Poola
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Anthony Poola? All about the Indian Cardinal who'll vote to choose the next Pope
From 'untouchable' to a voting Cardinal, Anthony Poola is on his way to writing history. The Indian prelate of the Catholic Church is one of four Cardinals who will vote to elect the next Pope. Cardinal Poola, the archbishop of Hyderabad, mourned the demise of Pope Francis , praising his 'historic papacy' for its compassion, humility, and tireless dedication to the Gospel. He reportedly will travel to the Vatican to attend the Pope's funeral. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 35 & Earning? Protect Your Family with ₹1 Cr Life Cover ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo After the death of Pope Francis, the next head of the Catholic Church will be chosen by four Cardinals. Poola is the first Indian Dalit Cardinal , one of the four cardinals, to have this privilege. When the next Pope is chosen, history will be made—not just in the Vatican, but also in a remote village in Andhra Pradesh in India. Here's all you need to know about Anthony Poola. Who is Anthony Poola? Anthony Poola is an Indian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad since 2021. He was Bishop of Kurnool from 2008 to 2020. Before becoming a bishop, he worked as a priest of the Diocese of Cuddapah. On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis elevated Poola to Cardinal at a consistory held in the Vatican. With that, Poola became the first Dalit and the first Telugu to be named a cardinal. The 63-year-old Cardinal is the only Dalit among the 138 cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to vote for the next head of the Catholic Church. From 'untouchable' to a Cardinal: In 1961, Poola was born at Polur in the Diocese of Kurnool, Hyderabad, to Poola Chinna Anthony and Arogyamma, a family belonging to the Dalit class, which constitutes about two-thirds of India's Catholic population. Despite the Indian Constitution abolishing caste-based discrimination over 70 years ago, members of the Dalit community continue to face challenges such as oppression and limited opportunities, often relegated to menial labor. In fact, in a 2022 interview with Vatican News, Poola recalled incidents from when he was young, where, due to his caste, he was not offered water in a cup by the people who belonged to a higher caste in the social hierarchy. Instead, he narrated, they poured the water into his hands. "We accepted that social stigma," he said. Early life and education: Poola's educational journey began with elementary schooling, but due to financial constraints, his father was unable to support him beyond the eighth grade. At one point, he had to remain at home from school. However, during a summer camp, Dutch missionaries identified his potential and offered to finance his further education. This led him to walk several miles to high school, often without shoes. Poola told in an interview, 'When I reached class 9, the missionary priest Fr. Bon joined me to a seminary. So I could complete classes 9 and 10 from Kurnool Seminary.' He added, 'After that, I wanted to become a priest as well as acquire academic education. So, I joined to do B. Com in STBC College, Andhra Pradesh.' Although adversity was his companion at every step of the way, Poola opted for a college education as well and studied finance. However, Poola told 'Those three years were not easy for me. It was a big challenge to find the money for food and room rent, so I went to college, quitting breakfast for three years.' It was during this time that he expressed a desire to enter the seminary. As per Poola, 'After completing my graduation, my spiritual father, Fr. Albert Vegas encouraged me to make a decision in my life.' He added, 'What I am now is only with the help of many missionaries who helped me when I did not have enough money for my studies and formation. Therefore, I wanted to become a priest like them to serve the poor.' Poola became a diocesan seminary student at Cuddapah (Kadappa) Minor Seminary. Path to priesthood: After his studies, Poola was ordained a priest on 20 February 1992. Before his elevation to cardinal, Poola was actively involved in various social service organizations, most notably the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. Through this organization, he focused on bringing joy and support to children and the elderly, particularly those in impoverished conditions. His commitment to assisting underprivileged children drives his efforts to secure educational sponsorships for them. Poola was a parish vicar of St. Mary's Cathedral from 1992 to 1993; a parish vicar in Amagampalli from 1993 to 1994; a pastor in Tekurpet from 1994 to 1995; a pastor in Badvel from 1995 to 2000; and a pastor in Veerapalli from 2000 to 2001. He studied for a master's degree in health pastoral care and took courses in theology at Loyola University Chicago, and also worked at St. Genevieve Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Returning to his home diocese of Cuddapah, Poola was the director of the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging from 2004 to 2008. He was also a Diocesan Consultor, Secretary for Education, Deputy Administrator of the Schools of the Diocese, and Coordinator of the Sponsorship Program. In February 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Kurnool. In November 2020, he was appointed the Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad by the late Pope Francis. He was installed there on 3 January 2021. On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis made him a cardinal priest, assigning him the title of Santi Protomartiri a Via Aurelia Antica. 'It was something I never dreamed of. I accept God's will with humility' – this was the first response of Poola as he became the first Dalit Cardinal. 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Time of India
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Poola mourns Francis, to vote in new Pope's selection
Hyderabad: Archbishop of Hyderabad, Poola Anthony, on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis, describing him as a shepherd who stood with the poor and the forgotten, and as a prophetic voice for the church's mission at the margin. Poola will be leaving for the Vatican to participate in the funeral and election of a new pope. He is one of the four (cardinals) from India and among 135 cardinals (College of Cardinals) in the world eligible to vote for the new pope. Incidentally, Poola was named a cardinal and Archbishop of Hyderabad by Pope Francis in 2022. "The passing of Pope Francis marks the end of a profoundly significant chapter in the life of the church," Cardinal Poola said, paying tribute to the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Reflecting on his personal association with the Pope, Poola recalled the "singular honour and immense responsibility" Pope Francis placed upon him by naming him a cardinal — a moment he viewed not as a privilege but as a call to service. "He was a shepherd after the heart of Jesus — simple, sincere, and tirelessly committed to the poor, the forgotten, and the wounded," Poola said, highlighting how Pope Francis made the church's mission resonate with people living on the peripheries of society. The Archbishop of Hyderabad described Pope Francis as a man who "dared to dream of a church that is poor and for the poor," not merely through words but by embodying values of mercy, dialogue, and openness. He said Pope Francis' vision turned the church into "a field hospital" that listened and healed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo He also noted how Pope Francis' choice of the name 'Francis' was not symbolic alone, but a clear path — one of simplicity, peace, and care for creation. "He reminded us to build bridges, not walls," Poola added. Even in grief, the cardinal spoke of hope. "His legacy is not written only in documents, but in the hearts of millions he touched — through his humility, authenticity, and unwavering focus on Christ," he added.
Indian Express
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Apostle of the margins': Indian cardinals, bishops bid farewell to Pope Francis
Cardinal Anthony Poola, the first Dalit man to be elevated to the role of Cardinal, on Monday termed Pope Francis, who died earlier in the day, the 'apostle of the margins'. Speaking to The Indian Express, the cardinal, who is one of four Indians set to take part in the process to elect the next Pope, paid tribute to the pontiff who had elevated him to the position of cardinal in 2022. 'To the prophet of mercy, the apostle of the margins, we bid goodbye for now, with the hope of resurrection,' Cardinal Poola said. Along with Cardinal Poola, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad, the three others who will take part in the election process are Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, the Archbishop of Goa and Daman; Cardinal Cleemis Baselios, the Major Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram; and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, the Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church. The death of the Pope sets in motion the Interregnum – the intervening period between two papacies. There will be a period of Sede Vacante, meaning 'the seat is vacant', until a new Pope is elected from among the 253 cardinals. As many as 138 cardinals will be able to serve as electors in the next conclave. Cardinal over the age of 80 cannot take part in the election. Cardinal Poola said, 'With humble gratitude I remember the singular honour and immense responsibility he bestowed on me by naming me a cardinal during his pontificate… We will remember Pope Francis as the Pope who dared to dream 'a Church that is poor and for the poor'… With courage, he opened the doors that had long been shut. He reminded us that the Church is not a fortress but a field hospital.' Cardinal Ferrao also released a condolence message, saying, 'His (Pope Francis's) unwavering commitment to the Church and his dynamic endeavours in promoting peace, inter-religious dialogue, social justice and care for creation will be long remembered and cherished… His vision to transform the Church into a synodal community, one that listens, discerns, journeys together and embraces inclusivity, has left an indelible mark on the Church at all levels.' In a circular, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), whose president is Cardinal Ferrao, said, 'Pope Francis held a special love for India and longed to visit our land. He consistently reminded us of our duty to care for the poor and to build a synodal Church. In his recent message to the lndian Bishops gathered at the 36th CCBI Plenary Assembly in Bhubaneswar in January 2025, the Holy Father urged them to prioritise the poor and the vulnerable in their ministry, calling upon them to open wide the doors of the Church.' It also said, 'Pope Francis canonised five lndian saints – St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara and St. Euphrasia Eluvathingal on 23rd November 2014, St. Joseph Vaz on 14th January 2015, St. Mariam Thresia Chiramel on 13th October 2019 and St. Devasahayam Pillai on 15th May 2022.' Cardinal Ferrao further called upon all dioceses, parishes, religious communities and families to observe nine days of mourning and to offer special prayers. 'As a visible sign of our grief, church bells should be tolled to signify our sorrow and announce the passing away of our Supreme Pontiff,' he said in the CCBI circular. Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado, one of the top Catholic leaders in the country who has been at the forefront of several socially challenging causes, said, 'In his humility, he chose not to reside in the traditional Apostolic Palace but in the modest Vatican guest house – a choice that echoed the Gospel call to simplicity and solidarity.' The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) also issued a statement, saying, 'The Church in India joins millions of faithful across the world in mourning the loss of a shepherd who led the global Catholic Church with extraordinary courage, compassion and humility.' It said that he 'urged the global community to take concrete actions against climate change and environmental degradation, uniting people of all faiths and ideologies in the care for creation'. CBCI will also observe nine days of mourning and prayer for the Pope across all Catholic churches in the country, the statement said. A Holy Mass or communion will also be offered at all Catholic churches in the country on April 22, the CBCI said.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cardinal Poola Anthony mourns Pope Francis' death, remembers him as 'prophet of mercy, apostle of the margins'
Cardinal Poola Anthony with Pope Francis HYDERABAD: Cardinal Poola Anthony on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the death of Pope Francis, describing him as a shepherd who stood with the poor and the forgotten, and as a prophetic voice for the Church's mission at the margins. Cardinal Poola will be leaving Hyderabad for the Vatican to participate in the funeral and the election of the next Pope. Cardinal Poola emphasized Pope Francis' commitment to serving those on the peripheries of society 'The passing of Pope Francis marks the end of a profoundly significant chapter in the life of the Church,' Cardinal Poola said, paying tribute to the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Reflecting on his personal association with the Pope, Cardinal Poola recalled the 'singular honour and immense responsibility' Pope Francis placed upon him by naming him a cardinal — a moment he viewed not as privilege but as a call to service. - 'He was a shepherd after the heart of Jesus—simple, sincere, and tirelessly committed to the poor, the forgotten, and the wounded,' Cardinal Poola said, highlighting how Pope Francis made the Church's mission resonate with people living on the peripheries of society. Cardinal Poola described the Pope as a man who 'dared to dream of a Church that is poor and for the poor,' not merely through words but by embodying values of mercy, dialogue, and openness. He said Pope Francis' vision turned the Church into 'a field hospital' that listened and healed. - He also noted how Pope Francis' choice of the name 'Francis' was not symbolic alone, but a clear path—one of simplicity, peace, and care for creation. 'He reminded us to build bridges, not walls,' Cardinal Poola added. Even in grief, the Cardinal spoke of hope. 'His legacy is not written only in documents, but in the hearts of millions he touched—through his humility, authenticity, and unwavering focus on Christ.'
