It is with deep sorrow that I inform you of the sad demise of His Eminence Cardinal Ivan Dias The Exsequial Mass was held at St. Peter’s Basilica at 3 pm (Italian Time)on Wednesday, 21st June. It was presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Dean of College of Cardinals, joined by several Cardinals, including the CBCI President, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo and others. The final prayers of the funeral Rites were offered by His Holiness Pope Francis. The mortal remains of the deceased Cardinal were interned in the Verano Cemetry of the Propaganda Fide, Rome, on Thursday morning, 22nd June.
Cardinal Ivan Dias was born on 14th April, 1936 in Bandra, Mumbai. He was ordained a priest on 8th December, 1958. After completing his studies in Rome, he entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1964. For long years he served at the Vatican Secretariat of State and then in several Diplomatic Missions of the Holy See in different countries. He was ordained a Bishop on 19th June, 1982, and was raised to the rank of Apostolic Nuncio. From 1982 till 2001, Archbishop Ivan Dias served as Nuncio in Ghana, Togo, Benin, South Asia Korea and Albania in succession.
On 8th November, 1996, Archbishop Ivan Dias was appointed as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay. He was then raised to the rank of a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II of Blessed Memory on 21st February, 2001. Cardinal Ivan Dias was hand-picked by Pope Benedict XVI and appointed him as the Prefect of the Congregation of Evangelization of Peoples on 20th May, 2006, a post which Cardinal Ivan Dias held with distinction till he retired from active service at the age of 75, in 2011.
Cardinal Ivan Dias was an illustrious son of the Church, who served the Church as a seasoned and accomplished Representative of the Holy See to numerous countries. He upheld and reiterated the commitment of the Holy See for peace and prosperity of all the people, harmony and collaboration between nations. Cardinal Ivan Dias’ mission in Albania was so unique and challenging that even in the Condolence Message of the Holy Father, it merited a reference, “I recall with gratitude the late Cardinal’s years of faithful service to the Apostolic See, especially his contribution to the spiritual and physical reconstruction of the suffering Church in Albania”.
Cardinal Ivan Dias was a true shepherd after the model of the Good Shepherd. Almost 32 years of Diplomatic Career of the Vatican has not dried up even one ounce of pastorality in him; rather, enkindled in him the zeal and thirst for the spiritual and material welfare of his people in the Archdiocese of Bombay. He taught them with prophetic zeal, sanctified them with word, sacraments and governed them with love, justice and mercy. He loved the people, supported the Clergy and cared for the Religious. Inspired by the example of Pope John XXIII of Blessed Memory, Cardinal Ivan Dias attached prime importance to the formation of Seminarians. Pius X Seminary was the apple of his eyes.
With just one decade of Episcopal Ministry in the Archdiocese of Bombay, Cardinal Ivan Dias has left behind a lasting legacy of unabated love for Jesus, filial devotion to Our Blessed Mother, total commitment to the Church and unswearing loyalty to the Magisterium. He was the Champion of Pro-Life movement, stood like a citadel to resist and repel any ideology or movement which would harm the spiritual, moral or ethical life of the people entrusted to his care. He loved the poor, cared for the needy and protected the weak. His long standing association with Saint Mother Teresa had a remarkable influence in his life and activities.
As Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Ivan Dias rendered effective leadership to expand and intensify the missionary activities of the Church, especially in Africa and Asia. With his rich experience in the Vatican Secretariat of State, Cardinal Ivan Dias could easily build bridges between the Holy See and several nations, which eventually paved the way for Catholics in such countries to live and move with dignity and freedom. During this period, Cardinal Ivan Dias was sent by the Holy Father as the Papal Legate for several Ecclesial events and celebrations in several countries. Cardinal Ivan Dias was also appointed as President Delegate for the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
In short, Cardinal Ivan Dias was a perfect gentleman, seasoned Vatican Diplomat, able administrator, strict disciplinarian, zealous missionary and finally, to quote Pope Francis “a wise and gentle pastor”.
While the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India shares the sorrows of the bereaved family of Cardinal Ivan Dias and the sense of loss of the members of the Archdiocese of Bombay, we raise our hearts and minds in prayer for the departed soul, that God may reward him with eternal glory for tall that Cardinal Ivan Dias has done for Him and for His Church.
Msgr. Joseph Chinnayyan,
Deputy Secretary General, CBCI &
Director, CBCI Centre