Archbishop of Goa e Damão
Cardinal Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa e Damão (India), was born on 20 January 1953 in Aldona, Goa. He studied philosophy and theology in the Seminary of Poona. He then obtained a licentiate in biblical theology at the Pontifical Urbanian University (1988) and a licentiate in catechetics and pastoral theology at the International Lumen Vitae Institute (Brussels - 1991). He was ordained a priest on 28 October 1979. During the course of his priestly ministry, he has held various offices: parish vicar in Salvador do Mundo (1979) in Chinchinim (1981-84); Prefect and Lecturer at Our Lady Minor Seminary in Saligao-Pilerne (1984-1986), diocesan Director of the Centre for the Apostolate of the Laity (1991-1994); ecclesiastical Consultor of Saint Luke’s Medical Guild (1993-1994); and Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Goa. On 20 December 1993, he was appointed titular Bishop of Vanariona and Auxiliary of Goa and Damão. Within the Episcopal Conference he has held various posts, including President of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Development (1995); and President of the Commission for the Laity (1998-2002). On 12 December 2003, Saint John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Goa and Damão with the title of Patriarca ad honorem of the East Indies. He was created and proclaimed a Cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 27 August 2022, and was assigned the titular church S. Maria in Via.