Hyderabad: Mega Mass to celebrate Bishop Anthony Poola's elevation to Cardinal on Sept 15th

Hyderabad: A mega thanksgiving mass to celebrate Bishop Anthony Poola's elevation to Cardinal will be held on September 15th. The holy mass is likely to have two cardinals,15 bishops and 300 priests in attendance, marking it one of the biggest events for the catholic churches. It is to recall that on August 27, Pope Francis installed Hyderabad Metropolitan Archbishop Poola Anthony as Cardinal in a religious event called Consistory in Vatican City.

Mumbai's Cardinal Oswald Gracias to concelebrate the Pontifical High Mass, where Cardinal Poola to reach out to periphery and downtrodden. The pontifical mass will be celebrated at St Mary's School grounds on September 15th and would begin at 5.00pm.

Father Allam Arogya Reddy- one of the convenor's of the event, said," In 2000 years of history of the Universal Catholic Church and above 300 years of Telugu Catholic Church, Cardinal Poola Anthony is the first to be on the College of Consultors to the Pope from the Telugu States. On September 15th, apart from cardinals, bishops, more than 300 priests and hundreds of nuns will take part in the holy mass and thanksgiving prayers".

Archbishop of Agra-Raphy Manjaly, two secretaries to Apostolic Nuncio to India & Nepal Monsginour Gabriel Pesce, Father Kevin Justin Kimtis, Bishop Niranjan of Sambalpur, Bishop Sarat Chandra Naik of Berhampur, Monsingour C Francis Vicar General of Bangalore, Bishop Henry D'Souza Bishop of Bellary have so far confirmed the attendance, he added.

About Cardinal Anthony Poola

A native of the Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, Bishop Poola Anthony was anointed as Archbishop of Hyderabad in January 2021 and is now elevated as cardinal. Sixty-year-old Poola was appointed as bishop of Kurnool in February 2008.

Poola was born in Chindukur village in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Anthony joined the minor seminary in Kurnool and then studied at St. Peter's pontifical major seminary in Bengaluru. He served as chairman of Youth Commission, AP Social Service Society, SC/BC Commission, secretary-general and treasurer of Telugu Catholic Bishops Conference.

The Pope announced 21 new Cardinals worldwide, including two from India. The College of Cardinals previously consisted of 208 Cardinals, of whom 117 are electors who elect the Pope and 91 non-electors. On 27 August, the number grew to 229 Cardinals, of whom 131 are the electors.

From Asia, six new cardinals have been appointed recently, and two from India, including Archbishop Filipe Neri António Sebastião di Rosário Ferrão - Archbishop of Goa and Damão and Archbishop Anthony Poola - Archbishop of Hyderabad.

Poola Anthony, after his return from Rome, said," It is a proud moment for Telugu Catholic Church as it is the first time in the history of the Church in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. I will act as per the guidance of Pope Francis. I will reach out to the Periphery, the poor and the downtrodden as the Pope suggested. I will be involved in development activities not only in the Telugu region but also in other regions of the country," Cardinal Bishop Anthony was ordained as a priest in February 1992.

Cardinal Poola will continue to serve as Hyderabad archbishop, having jurisdiction over Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal and surrounding districts of Hyderabad.