Simon Pimenta
Encyclopedia
Simon Pimenta is a Roman Catholic Cardinal
and a retired Archbishop
of Bombay (now Mumbai).
Pimenta was ordained on 21 December 1949. Before coming to Rome to study at the Pontifical College of St. Peter the Apostle, he served as assistant parish priest in Bombay and worked with the Bombay Curia. In 1954, Pimenta graduated in Canon Law
at the Pontifical Urban University. On 5 June 1971 Pope Paul VI
appointed Pimenta as an Auxiliary Bishop
of Bombay, giving him the titular see of Bocconia
. He was chosen to become the next Archbishop of Bombay by Pope Paul and was thus appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Bombay on 26 February 1977. On 11 September 1978 he succeeded Valerian Gracias
as the Archbishop of Bombay. He has served as President of the Indian Episcopal Conference
.
He was created Cardinal-Priest on 28 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
with the titular church of Santa Maria Regina Mundi a Torre Spaccata. He became Archbishop Emeritus
of Bombay on 8 November 1996 with the appointment of Ivan Dias as his successor in that see.
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
and a retired Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Bombay (now Mumbai).
Pimenta was ordained on 21 December 1949. Before coming to Rome to study at the Pontifical College of St. Peter the Apostle, he served as assistant parish priest in Bombay and worked with the Bombay Curia. In 1954, Pimenta graduated in Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
at the Pontifical Urban University. On 5 June 1971 Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
appointed Pimenta as an Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Bombay, giving him the titular see of Bocconia
Bocconia
Bocconia is a genus of flowering plants in the poppy family, Papaveraceae, that contains about 10 species. Carl Linnaeus chose the name to honor the Italian botanist Paolo Boccone .-Selected species:*Bocconia arborea Watson...
. He was chosen to become the next Archbishop of Bombay by Pope Paul and was thus appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Bombay on 26 February 1977. On 11 September 1978 he succeeded Valerian Gracias
Valerian Gracias
Valerian Gracias was an Indian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Bombay from 1950 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1953 by Pope Pius XII.-Biography:Valerian Gracias was born in Karachi to José and Carlota Gracias...
as the Archbishop of Bombay. He has served as President of the Indian Episcopal Conference
Episcopal Conference
In the Roman Catholic Church, an Episcopal Conference, Conference of Bishops, or National Conference of Bishops is an official assembly of all the bishops of a given territory...
.
He was created Cardinal-Priest on 28 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
with the titular church of Santa Maria Regina Mundi a Torre Spaccata. He became Archbishop Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of Bombay on 8 November 1996 with the appointment of Ivan Dias as his successor in that see.