POPE BENEDICT XVI APPOINTED CARDINAL IVAN DIAS, ARCHBISHOP OF BOMBAY, AS THE VATICAN'S PREFECT OF THE CONGREGATION OF EVANGELISATION OF PEOPLE.

CARDINAL IVAN DIAS IS A GOAN AND HAILES FROM VELSAO, GOA. BORN IN BANDRA SUBURB OF BOMBAY, HE WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST IN 1958.AFTER OBTAINING A DOCTORATE IN CANON LAW AT THE LATERAN UNIVERSITY IN ROME IN 1964, HE SERVED IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE OF THE VATICAN CITY 33 YEARS, FIRST AS SECRETARY IN THE PAPAL AMBASSADORS OFFICES IN THE SCANDINAVIAN AND NORDIC COUNTRIES, INDONESIA AND MADAGASCAR.

DURING 1973-82, HE WAS THE CHIEF OF DESK AT THE VATICAN SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR MANY COUNTRIES IN EASTERN EUROPE, AFRICA AND ASIA. HE SERVED AS A PAPAL REPRESENTATITIVE IN GHANA, TOGO, BENIN, SOUTH KOREA AND ALBANIA FROM 1982-97.

CARDINAL DIAS WAS APPOINTED ARCHBISHOP OF BOMBAY IN 1996 AND WAS MADE A CARDINAL BY POPE JOHN PAUL II IN 2001. HE IS A MEMBER OF EIGHT DICASTERIES(DEPARTMENTS) OF THE HOLY SEE.HE KNOWS 18 LANGUAGES.

IT IS A GREAT HONOUR FOR ALL OF US AS GOANS