Ivan Dias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ivan Cornelius Dias |
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Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples | |
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Church | Roman Catholic Church |
Archdiocese | Bombay (emeritus) |
Enthroned | 20 May 2006 |
Reign ended | 10 May 2011 |
Predecessor | Crescenzio Sepe |
Successor | Fernando Filoni |
Other posts | Cardinal priest of Spirito Santo alla Ferratella |
Orders | |
Ordination | 8 December 1958 |
Consecration | 19 June 1981 by Agostino Casaroli |
Created Cardinal | 21 February 2001 |
Rank | Cardinal priest |
Personal details | |
Birth name | Ivan Cornelius Dias |
Born | Bandra, Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India |
14 April 1936
Died | 19 June 2017 Rome, Italy |
(aged 81)
Buried | Campo Verano 41°54′05″N 12°31′13″E / 41.9015°N 12.5203°E |
Nationality | Indian |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Parents |
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Alma mater | St. Stanislaus High School, Mumbai |
Motto | Servus ('Servant') |
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Coat of arms | ![]() |
Styles of Ivan Cornelius Dias |
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Reference style | His Eminence |
Spoken style | Your Eminence |
Informal style | Cardinal |
See | Bombay (Emeritus) |
Ivan Cornelius Dias (born April 14, 1936 – died June 19, 2017) was an important leader in the Catholic Church from India. He held several big jobs, like being an Archbishop in Mumbai (then called Bombay) and later a top official in the Vatican. He became a Cardinal in 2001, which is a very high rank.
Contents
A Look at Ivan Dias's Life
Early Life and Becoming a Priest
Ivan Dias was born in Bandra, a part of Mumbai (which was called Bombay back then). His parents, Carlos and Maria, were from Goa. Ivan was the second of five children. His father worked for the government.
After finishing high school at St. Stanislaus High School, Ivan studied to become a priest. He was officially made a priest on December 8, 1958. For a few years, he worked in a church in Bombay. Then, he went to Rome, Italy, to study even more. He earned a special degree in church law in 1964.
Working for the Vatican
After his studies, Ivan Dias started working for the Vatican, which is the headquarters of the Catholic Church. He helped prepare for Pope Paul VI's visit to India in 1964.
From 1965 to 1973, he worked as a secretary in Vatican offices in many different countries. These included countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Later, he returned to the Vatican City and led a section that dealt with many countries, including those in Eastern Europe and Africa.
Becoming a Bishop and Ambassador
On May 8, 1981, Pope John Paul II made Ivan Dias an Archbishop. An Archbishop is a high-ranking bishop who usually leads a large area of churches. He also became a papal ambassador (like an ambassador for the Pope) to Ghana, Togo, and Benin.
He was officially made a bishop on June 19, 1981, in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. His chosen motto was "Servus," which means "Servant" in Latin.
Later, he became the papal ambassador to South Korea in 1986 and then to Albania in 1991. In Albania, he played a big role in helping to rebuild the Catholic Church after many years when it was not allowed to operate freely. He invited missionaries and worked with the government to get churches and schools back.
Leading the Archdiocese of Bombay
In 1996, Ivan Dias was called back from his ambassador duties. He was appointed the Archbishop of Mumbai (Bombay). He led the Catholic Church in that large city for ten years.
Becoming a Cardinal
Pope John Paul II made him a Cardinal on February 21, 2001. A Cardinal is a very senior leader in the Catholic Church, chosen by the Pope. Cardinals often advise the Pope and can vote for a new Pope.
In 2003, Cardinal Dias gave a speech at the special ceremony where Mother Teresa was honored. He had known Mother Teresa when he was an ambassador in Albania. He often spoke about how important it is for Christians to help others, especially the poor, just like Mother Teresa did.
Cardinal Dias was considered a possible candidate to become the next Pope in 2005, but Pope Benedict XVI was chosen instead.
On May 20, 2006, he was given a very important job: Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. This role meant he was in charge of all Catholic missions around the world. He retired from this role in 2011 when he turned 75.
Cardinal Dias was also a member of many important groups within the Vatican. These groups help make decisions about different parts of the Catholic Church, like education, culture, and how different religions talk to each other.
He was one of the Cardinals who voted in the 2013 election that chose Pope Francis as the new Pope.
Cardinal Ivan Dias passed away in Rome on June 19, 2017.
His Thoughts on the Church
Cardinal Dias often spoke about the challenges facing the Church in the modern world. He believed it was important to remember the Church's long history and traditions. He also encouraged Christians to serve others, especially those in need.
See also
In Spanish: Ivan Dias para niños