{{short description|Indian Latin Catholic bishop (born 1961)}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific_prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Anthony Poola | honorific_suffix = | title = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hyderabad|Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad]] | image = Poola Anthony.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | church = [[Roman Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hyderabad|Archdiocese of Hyderabad]] | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = [[Archdiocese of Hyderabad|Hyderabad]] | elected = | appointed = 19 November 2020 | term = | term_start = 3 January 2021 | quashed = | term_end = | predecessor = [[Thumma Bala]] | opposed = | successor = | other_post = President of the [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]] (2026-) <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = 20 February 1992 | ordinated_by = | consecration = 19 April 2008 | consecrated_by = [[Marampudi Joji]] | cardinal = 27 August 2022 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Francis]] | rank = Cardinal Priest <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|11|15|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Poluru]], [[Nandyal district|Prakasam]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | buried = | denomination = [[Christianity]] | residence = India | parents = [[Smt.]] Arogyamma (Mother)<br>[[Sri]] P. C. Anthony (Father) | spouse = | children = | occupation = | profession = | previous_post = {{indented plainlist| *Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kurnool|Kurnool]] (2008–2020) }} | education = {{indented plainlist| *Minor Seminary, Kurnool *[[Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches|STBC College, Kurnool]] *St. Paul's Seminary, Nuziveedu *[[St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary]] *[[Pontifical Urban University]] *[[Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University|Sri Krishnadevaraya University]] *[[Bronson Methodist Hospital]], certificate in [[Clinical pastoral education]] *[[Loyola University Chicago]], certificate in religion and theological engagement }} | alma_mater = | motto = Good news to the poor | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Anthony Poola (Card).svg | coat_of_arms_alt = }} {{Infobox Cardinal styles | name= Anthony Poola | dipstyle= [[His Eminence]] | offstyle=[[His Eminence|Your Eminence]] | relstyle= [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] | See=Hyderabad | image = Coat of arms of Anthony Poola (Card).svg | image_size = 200px }} '''Anthony Poola''' (born 15 November 1961) is an Indian prelate of the [[Catholic Church]] who has been [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hyderabad|Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad]] since 2021. He was [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kurnool|Bishop of Kurnool]] from 2008 to 2020. Before becoming a bishop, he worked as a priest of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cuddapah|Diocese of Cuddapah]]. He became president of the [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]] (CBCI) in 2026.
On 27 August 2022, [[Pope Francis]] made Poola a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]], the first [[Dalit]] and the first [[Telugu people|Telugu]] to hold that rank.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 31 May 2022 | url = https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/hyderabad-archbishop-anthony-poola-be-first-dalit-cardinal-164485?amp | work = The News Minute | title = Hyderabad Archbishop Anthony Poola to be first Dalit cardinal | date = 30 May 2022 }}</ref>
==Biography== Anthony Poola was born on 15 November 1961 in [[Chindukur, Durvesi Parish]], in the Diocese of Kurnool. When poverty forced him to leave school after the seventh grade, missionaries took an interest in him and helped him continue his schooling.<ref>{{cite interview | access-date = 11 June 2022 | url = https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-06/dalit-india-consistory-cardinal-anthony-poola-interview.html | publisher = Vatican News | title = First Dalit Cardinal: My mission, help as many poor children as possible | date = 8 June 2022 }}</ref> After attending the Minor Seminary in [[Nuzvid]], he studied at St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary in [[Bangalore]]. He was ordained a priest on 20 February 1992 and incardinated in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cuddapah|Diocese of Cuddapah]].<ref name=vatbio/>
He held the following positions: 1992-1993: parish vicar of St. Mary's Cathedral from 1992 to 1993; parish vicar in [[Amagampalli]] from 1993 to 1994; pastor in [[Tekurpet]] from 1994 to 1995; pastor in [[Badvel]] from 1995 to 2000; pastor in [[Veerapalli]] from 2000 to 2001. He studied for a master's degree in health pastoral care and took courses in theology at [[Loyola University Chicago]]. He also worked at St. Genevieve Church in the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago|Archdiocese of Chicago]].<ref name=vatbio/>
Returning to his home diocese of Cuddapah, he was director of the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging from 2004 to 2008. He was also Diocesan Consultor, Secretary for Education, Deputy Administrator of the Schools of the Diocese and Coordinator of the Sponsorship Program.<ref name=vatbio/>
On 8 February 2008, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] appointed him [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kurnool|Bishop of Kurnool]].<ref name=vatbio>{{cite press release | access-date = 31 May 2022 | date = 8 February 2008 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/02/08/0082/00202.html | language = it |title = Rinunce e Nomine, 08.02.2008}}</ref>
On 19 November 2020, [[Pope Francis]] appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 31 May 2022 | date = 19 November 2020 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/11/19/0597/01401.html | language = it |title = Rinunce e Nomine, 19.11.2020}}</ref> He was installed there on 3 January 2021.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://telanganatoday.com/rev-anthony-poola-installed-as-archbishop-of-hyderabad/amp | date = 3 January 2021 | access-date = 31 May 2022 | title = Rev. Anthony Poola installed as Archbishop of Hyderabad | work = Telagana Today }}</ref>
On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis made him a [[cardinal priest]], assigning him the title of [[Santi Protomartiri a Via Aurelia Antica]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2022/documents/ns_lit_doc_20220827_titoli-diaconie-nuovi-cardinali_it.html|title=Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali|date=27 August 2022|website=[[Holy See|The Holy See]]|publisher=[[Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff|Ufficio delle Celebrazioni Liturgiche del Sommo Pontefice]]|language=it|trans-title=Assignment of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals|access-date=29 August 2022|archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref> He participated as a [[Cardinal electors in the 2025 papal conclave|cardinal elector]] in the [[2025 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Leo XIV]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html| title=Cardinal Electors|date=6 May 2025|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|language=en|access-date=6 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India elected him to a two-year term as president on 7 February 2026.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=16 February 2026| url= https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2026/02/in-milestone-election-indian-bishops-choose-dalit-cardinal-to-head-conference|work=Crux|date=9 February 2026|title=In milestone election, Indian bishops choose Dalit cardinal to head conference|first=Nirmala |last=Carvalho}}</ref>
==See also== * [[Cardinals created by Pope Francis]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
;Additional sources *{{cite press release | date = 29 May 2022 |url = https://ccbi.in/abp-anthony-poola-will-be-elevated-as-cardinal/ | website = CCBI| title = Abp. Anthony Poola Will Be Elevated As Cardinal | first = Stephen | last = Alathara }}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}}
* {{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_poola_a.html| title=Poola Card. Anthony|website=[[Holy See Press Office]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828005138/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_poola_a.html|archive-date=28 August 2022|url-status=live}} * {{cite web | website = Catholic Hierarchy | url = https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bpoola.html | title = Archbishop Anthony Poola }} {{College of Cardinals}} {{Cardinals created by Francis}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poola, Anthony}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1961 births]] [[Category:People from Andhra Pradesh]] [[Category:Christian clergy from Andhra Pradesh]] [[Category:Dalit people]] [[Category:Telugu people]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in India]] [[Category:Indian cardinals]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis]]