Cardinal
Pope John Paul II created Lourdusamy Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria delle Grazie alle Fornaci fuori Porta Cavalleggeri in the consistory of May 25, 1985; he is the first Tamil to be raised to the rank of cardinal. Lourdusamy was named Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches on the following October 30, and later resigned the post on May 24, 1991.
Attended the Second Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 24 to December 8, 1985; Attended the Seventh Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 30, 1987. Special papal envoy to the closing ceremonies of the Year of St. Willibrord, Luxemburg, June 3 to 5, 1990. Attended the Eighth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 28, 1990.
He became Cardinal Protodeacon (the senior Cardinal-Deacon) on April 5, 1993, and served as a special papal legate to the funeral of Mother Teresa on September 13, 1997. On April 5, 1993 was appointed protodeacon. He chose to become a Cardinal-Priest on January 29, 1996.
From the history of the cause of Mother Teresa's cause for sainthood: "24 September 2002 In Ordinary Session, the Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (CCS), after hearing the report of His Eminence, Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy, the Proposer of the Cause, unanimously recognize that the Servant of God Mother Teresa of Calcutta practiced the theological, cardinal and other annexed virtues to a heroic decree."
His Eminence has visited 110 countries on all continents, tirelessly carrying out the work and mission of the Church, receiving numerous distinctions in appreciation of his work and has been honored by the Governments of Philippines, Taiwan, China, France, and Germany.
Read more about this topic: Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy
Famous quotes containing the word cardinal:
“What people don’t realize is that intimacy has its conventions as well as ordinary social intercourse. There are three cardinal rules—don’t take somebody else’s boyfriend unless you’ve been specifically invited to do so, don’t take a drink without being asked, and keep a scrupulous accounting in financial matters.”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)
“The Cardinal is at his wit’s end—it is true that he had not far to go.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“Time and I against any two.”
—Spanish proverb.
Quoted by Cardinal Mazarin during the minority of Louis XIV.