HYDERABAD: Archbishop of Hyderabad Anthony Poola, who was designated one of the new Cardinals of the Catholic Church by Pope Francis, is not only the first Telugu person to be elevated to the position, but also the first Dalit.
The nomination of Anthony Poola as Cardinal is the first time a Dalit Christian has been elected to the College of Cardinals, which elects the Pope. Anthony Poola, 62, comes from the Andhra Pradesh district of Kurnool. He served as Bishop of Kurnool for more than a decade before being named Archbishop of Hyderabad by Pope Francis in 2020.
Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he will be appointing 21 churchmen to the rank of Cardinal, including two from India. Goa and Daman Archbishop The other priest from India to be promoted to Cardinal is Filipe Neri Antonio Sebastiao di Rosario Ferrao.
Anthony described the appointment as "God's will, which he accepts with humility." He expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his faith in him. His elevation as a cardinal, he said, is a privilege for the Telugu region and will help the Church in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana develop in faith.
Anthony Poola's elevation was greeted with joy by a number of organisations, including the Telugu Catholic Bishops' Council. He is the first Telugu to be named Cardinal in the history of the Catholic Church, which is the second-highest rank after Pope.
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