Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Joseph Coutts of Karachi and transferred Bishop Benny Travas of Multan to take his place as archbishop of Pakistan’s largest metropolis.
Cardinal Coutts has headed the southern archdiocese since Jan. 25, 2012. He was appointed chairperson of the Christian Research Centre, a key Christian analysis middle, in Rawalpindi final month.
Cardinal Coutts was born on July 21, 1945, in Amristar within the Diocese of Jullundur in British India. He was ordained a priest in Lahore on Jan. 9, 1971
Bishop Travas was born in Karachi in 1966 and ordained a priest on Dec. 7, 1990. He served as vicar basic of Karachi Archdiocese and was ordained bishop of Multan on Aug. 15, 2015. He has additionally served as a professor of canon regulation on the Nationwide Catholic Institute of Theology in Karachi.
Karachi has a inhabitants of 20 million. In line with the Catholic Church listing 2018, the seaport archdiocese has 182,000 Catholics and 16 parishes.
“The son of Karachi has returned,” Father Mario Rodrigues, former rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Karachi, instructed UCA Information.
“There’s a number of pleasure and we’re receiving cellphone calls of congratulations. He’s a canonist and pastoral who can handle the wants of the minority group within the megacity. Our individuals name for schooling, drugs and unity.”
Father Bonnie Mendes, former govt secretary of the Catholic bishops’ Nationwide Fee for Justice and Peace, referred to as it a sensible choice.
“Archbishop Travas is aware of all of the clergymen and non secular of Karachi properly. The metropolis wanted a dynamic chief — they’ve one now. We had been anticipating large modifications, particularly after the cardinal resigned greater than a yr in the past,” he stated.
Father Yousaf Sohan, vicar basic of Multan Diocese, additionally congratulated Archbishop Travas.
“His elevation is an honor for Multan Diocese. He is an easy one that can inflame spirituality within the metropolis. We hope and pray for a brand new bishop of our diocese quickly,” he stated.
On New 12 months’s Day, Pope Francis named Capuchin Father Khalid Rehmat as the brand new vicar apostolic of Quetta in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province. His consecration is scheduled for subsequent month.
