BernadineMedwort: typo fix

2026-01-22T03:53:37Z

typo fix

>Rathfelder: removed Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops; added Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in India using HotCat

2021-04-23T22:40:28Z

removed Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops; added Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in India using HotCat

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{{EngvarB|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Cardinal
| honorific_prefix = [[His Eminence]]
| name = Valerian Gracias
| honorific_suffix = [[Doctor of Divinity|D.D.]], [[Doctorate|M.AGG.]], [[List of Padma Vibhushan award recipients|PV]]
| title = [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay|Archbishop of Bombay]]
| image = Cardinal_Valerian_Gracias_in_Malta.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Cardinal Valerian Gracias greeted by members of the [[Indian Maltese]] community at the La Valette Band Club in Malta in 1958
| church =
| archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay|Archdiocese of Bombay]]
| province = [[Bombay]]
| metropolis = [[Bombay]]
| diocese =
| see = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay|Bombay]]
| term_start = 4 December 1950
| term_end = 11 September 1978
| predecessor = [[Thomas Roberts (bishop)|Archbishop Thomas Roberts, S.J.]]
| successor = [[Simon Pimenta]]
| opposed =
| other_post = [[Santa Maria in Via Lata|Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Via Lata]](1953-1978) 
Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay(1946-1950). [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India|President of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India.]](1958 – 1972)
[[Titular Bishop of Thennesus]].(1946-1950)

| ordination = 3 October 1926
| ordained_by =
| consecration = 29 June 1946
| consecrated_by = [[Thomas Roberts (bishop)|Archbishop Thomas Roberts, S.J.]]
| cardinal = 12 January 1953
| created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Pius XII]]
| rank = [[Cardinal-Priest]]

| birth_name = Valerian Gracias
| birth_date = {{birth date|1900|10|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Karachi]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1978|9|11|1900|10|23|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| buried = [[Cathedral of the Holy Name, Mumbai]]
| resting_place_coordinates = {{coord|18|55|24|N|72|49|50|E|}}
| nationality = {{flagicon|India}} Indian
| religion = Roman Catholic
| residence = [[Mumbai]], [[India]]
| parents = José Gracias (Father) 
Carlota Gracias (Mother)
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation =
| profession =
| alma_mater = [[St. Patrick's High School, Karachi|St. Patrick's High School]] 
[[St. Joseph's Seminary (Mangalore)]] 
[[Papal Seminary|Pontifical Seminary (Kandy)]] 
[[Pontifical Gregorian University]]
| motto = Fraternitatis Amore<ref>http://www.araldicavaticana.com/cardinali_motti_parte_prima.htm</ref>'''''(Latin)''''' In the love of brotherhood'''(English)'''
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_alt =
}}
{{Ordination
| ordained deacon by =
| date of diaconal ordination =
| place of diaconal ordination =
| ordained priest by =
| date of priestly ordination = 3 October 1926
| place of priestly ordination =
| consecrated by = [[Thomas Roberts (bishop)|Archbishop Thomas Roberts, S.J]]
| co-consecrators = Bishop Vittore Rosario Fernandes, Bishop Thomas Pothacamury (Pothakamuri)
| date of consecration = 29 June 1946
| place of consecration =
| elevated by = [[Pope Pius XII]]
| date of elevation = 12 January 1953
| sources =
| bishop 1 = Bishop Michael Rodrigues
| consecration date 1 = 30 November 1953
| bishop 2 = Bishop Longinus Gabriel Pereira
| consecration date 2 = 11 August 1955
| bishop 3 = Archbishop Dominic Romuald Basil Athaide, O.F.M. Cap
| consecration date 3 = 20 May 1956
| bishop 4 =Bishop John Burke
| consecration date 4 = 1 November 1959
| bishop 5 = Archbishop Angelo Innocent Fernandes
| consecration date 5 = 1 November 1959
| bishop 6 = Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario, S.D.B.
| consecration date 6 = 6 September 1964
| bishop 7 = Bishop Ignatius Salvador D’Souza
| consecration date 7 = 30 November 1966
| bishop 8 = Bishop Winnibald Joseph Menezes
| consecration date 8 = 3 February 1968
| bishop 9 = Bishop Patrick Paul D’Souza
| consecration date 9 = 8 August 1970
| bishop 10 = Bishop Joseph Robert Rodericks, S.J.
| consecration date 10 = 9 January 1971
| bishop 11 = Simon Ignatius Cardinal Pimenta
| consecration date 11 = 29 June 1971
| bishop 12 = Bishop Valerian D’Souza
| consecration date 12 = 25 September 1977
| bishop 13 = Bishop Dominic Joseph Abreo
| consecration date 13 = 9 April 1978
}}

'''Valerian Gracias''' (23 October 1900 – 11 September 1978) was an [[India]]n [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. He served as [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay|Archbishop of Bombay]] from 1950 until his death and was elevated to the rank of [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]] in 1953 by [[Pope Pius XII]].

==Biography==
Valerian Gracias was born in [[Karachi]], [[British India]] (in modern [[Pakistan]]), to José (d. 1902) and Carlota Gracias. His parents were from Dramapur/[[Navelim]], [[Goa]], working in Karachi.<ref name=profiles>{{cite book| title=Profiles of Eminent Goans, Past and Present |first= J. Clement |last= Vaz |year= 1997 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7DJLxYBYA-YC&pg=PA45 |pages=45–7|isbn= 9788170226192 }}</ref> He studied at [[Saint Patrick's High School, Karachi|St. Patrick's High School]] in Karachi, St. Joseph [[Seminary]] in [[Mangalore]], and the Pontifical Seminary of [[Kandy]] in [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]],<ref name=profiles/> where he obtained his [[Licentiate of Sacred Theology|doctorate in theology]]. [[Holy Orders|Ordained]] to the [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|priesthood]] on 3 October 1926,<ref name=mediatek>{{cite interview | access-date = 23 June 2018 | date= 11 May 1967 | title= Interview mit dem Erzbischof von Bombay, Kardinal Valerian Gracias | trans-title = Interview with the Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Valerian Gracias |publisher= Österreichischer Mediathek | url = https://www.mediathek.at/portaltreffer/atom/01787DE0-311-0E878-00000BEC-01772EE2/pool/BWEB/}} The interview is conducted in English.</ref> Gracias then did [[Parish (Catholic Church)|pastoral]] work in [[Bandra]] until November 1927, when he entered the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]] in [[Rome]]. He finished his studies at the Gregorian in 1929 and became [[Personal assistant|private secretary]] to Archbishop Joachim Lima [[Society of Jesus|SJ]] and [[Chancellor (ecclesiastical)|diocesan chancellor]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay|Bombay]].<ref name=profiles/> He served as a preacher and pastor, and as the editor of various newspapers before being named the first Indian [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]] of Mumbai's [[Cathedral of the Holy Name, Mumbai|Holy Name Cathedral]] in December 1941.

On 16 May 1946, he was appointed [[Auxiliary bishop|Auxiliary Bishop]] of Bombay and [[Titular bishop of Thennesus]]. Gracias received his [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|episcopal consecration]] on the following 29 June from [[Thomas Roberts (archbishop)|Archbishop Thomas Roberts]] SJ, with Bishops Victor Fernandes and Thomas Pothacamury as [[Consecrator|co-consecrators]]. [[Pope Pius XII]] promoted him to [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay|Archbishop of Bombay]] on 4 December 1950 to replace Roberts, a 57-year-old Englishman, who made way for the appointment of a native-born Indian.<ref>{{cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JTgrDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA159 |page=159|title=The Open Church |first=Michael |last=Novak |date=2002 |publisher= Routledge|isbn=9781351478151}}</ref> Gracias demonstrated his support of Goan nationalism and an opponent of Portuguese colonial rule by presented an image of the Virgin Mary as an indigenous Indian, at a time when the populace was still accustomed to European representations.<ref>{{cite book |editor-first1=Charles J. |editor-last1=Borges |editor-first2= Oscar |editor-last2=Guilherme Pereira |editor-first3= Hannes |editor-last3=Stubbe |title=Goa and Portugal: History and Development |date=2000 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |page=224 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=diISslZgIAkC&pg=PA224 |access-date=22 June 2018 | chapter=Liberation and the Goa Ethos| first=Teresa| last=Albuquerque|isbn=9788170228677 }}</ref>

On 29 November 1952 Pope Pius XII announced he would create 24 new cardinals, increasing the size of the College of Cardinals to 70 members, its maximum at the time.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Cortesi| first1=Arnaldo|title= 24 New Cardinals Named by Vatican; American Included| url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1952/11/30/93592660.pdf |access-date=6 September 2017|work=New York Times| date=30 November 1952}}</ref> When one of those Pius named died on 28 December,<ref>{{cite news|title=Msgr. Agostini, 64, Succumbs in Italy|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1952/12/28/93597776.pdf|access-date=6 September 2017|work=New York Times|date=28 December 1952}}</ref> the Vatican announced on 29 December that Gracias would be made a cardinal, the first from India.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prelate in India to be a Cardinal| url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1952/12/30/93598908.pdf|access-date=6 September 2017|work=New York Times|date=30 December 1952}}</ref> He was made [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal-Priest]] of [[Santa Maria in Via Lata|S. Maria in Via Lata]] in the [[Papal consistory|consistory]] of 12 January 1953.<ref name="A Cardinal for India">{{cite news | url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,817615,00.html | title=A Cardinal for India | work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=5 January 1953 | access-date=12 July 2016}}</ref> Gracias was considered to be a [[Conservatism|conservative]].<ref>{{cite news|work=Time | url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919823-9,00.html |title= In Search of a Pope | date= 21 August 1978}}</ref> The Portuguese government denied reports that it was displeased with the honor bestowed upon Gracias.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lisbon Endorses Gracias |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1953/01/22/93600674.pdf |access-date=22 June 2018|work=New York Times|date=22 January 1953}}</ref>

He was one of the 51 cardinal electors in the [[Papal conclave, 1958|1958 papal conclave]] and one of the 80 in the [[Papal conclave, 1963|conclave of 1963]]. He attended the [[Second Vatican Council]] (1962–1965), where he was one of 21 Council participants to present the closing messages of the Council on 8 December 1965.<ref>{{cite web| website=Christus Rex |url=http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/v19.html |title=Council Closing Messages| access-date=22 June 2018 |url-status=dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/19961031161553/http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/v19.html | archive-date= 31 October 1996}}</ref> He hosted the first papal visit to India in 1964, when Pope Paul VI attended the [[Eucharistic Congress|International Eucharistic Congress]] in Bombay,<ref name=profiles/> preceded by a symposium of Catholic theologians to which he invited Hans Küng.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Küng |first1=Hans |title=My Struggle for Freedom: Memoirs |date=2003 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |page=407 |isbn=9780802826596 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M6Hm-VmD6_sC&pg=PA407 |access-date=22 June 2018}}</ref> He later said that Pope Paul VI's Bombay visit inspired his encyclical ''[[Populorum progressio]]'' (1967).<ref name=mediatek/> In 1970 he was one of 15 prelates chosen to organize the [[Second Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops|1971 Synod of Bishops]], and he supported Pope Paul against critics of his approach to church governance and insistence of priestly celibacy.<ref>{{cite news|title= Pope Reproaches Belgian Cardinal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/05/16/archives/pope-reproaches-belgian-cardinal-grieved-astonishment-is-expressed.html |access-date=22 June 2018|work=New York Times|date=16 May 1970 | first=Paul | last=Hofmann}}</ref> From 1954 to 1972, he was President of the [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]] and in 1972 helped overcome Vatican skepticism and win Pope Paul's approval of the formation of the [[Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/beloved-asian-john-xxiii-laid-rest-korea | work = National Catholic Reporter |access-date = 23 June 2018 | title = Beloved 'Asian John XXIII' laid to rest in Korea | first =Thomas C. | last = Fox | date = 23 February 2009}}</ref>

He fell ill in May 1978<ref name=TIME1978>{{cite news|work=Time| url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,912187,00.html |title=Milestones |date= 25 September 1978}}</ref> and did not participate in the [[Papal conclave|conclave]] of [[Papal conclave, August 1978|August 1978]]. Gracias died from [[cancer]] in [[Bombay]] 11 September 1978 at age 77.<ref name=TIME1978/> He was buried in Holy Name Cathedral in Mumbai.{{fact|date=March 2021}}

He was awarded the [[Padma Vibhushan]] award, second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, on 26 January 1966.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date = 15 November 2014 | archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | website= Ministry of Home Affairs, Public Section| access-date=22 June 2018 |title= Padma Awards Directory (1954-2013)}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

;Additional sources
* {{cite book|first=Bento S. |last=De Souza |title=India's First Cardinal: Highlights in the Life of Valerian Cardinal Gracias |url=https://archive.org/details/indiasfirstcardi0000unse |url-access=registration | date= 1971| publisher=Examiner Press}}
* {{cite book| first=Simon |last=Pimenta |title= Cardinal Valerian Gracias: His Life and Ministry |date=2002| publisher= St. Paul's}}

==External links==
*[http://webdept.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1953.htm#Gracias Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church]
*[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgarcias.html Catholic-Hierarchy]

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|ca}}
{{succession box |
title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay|Archbishop of Bombay]] |
before=[[Thomas Roberts (archbishop)|Thomas Roberts]] [[Society of Jesus|SJ]] |
after=[[Simon Pimenta]] |
years=1950–1978 }}
{{s-end}}

{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gracias, Valerian}}
[[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Pius XII]]
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1978 deaths]]
[[Category:St. Patrick's High School, Karachi alumni]]
[[Category:Indian cardinals]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in India]]
[[Category:Participants in the Second Vatican Council]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in social work]]
[[Category:People from Karachi]]
[[Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni]]

Valerian Gracias - Revision history

BernadineMedwort: typo fix

>Rathfelder: removed Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops; added Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in India using HotCat