# Ivan Dias

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ivan_Dias
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ivan_Dias.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Dias
> Source revision: 1331679089
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Indian Catholic prelate (1936–2017)

For the Portuguese futsal player, see [Ivan Almeida Dias](/source/Ivan_Almeida_Dias).

His Eminence Ivan Cornelius Dias JCD Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Church Catholic Church Latin Church Archdiocese Bombay Installed 20 May 2006 Term ended 10 May 2011 Predecessor Crescenzio Sepe Successor Fernando Filoni Other post Cardinal priest of Spirito Santo alla Ferratella Previous posts Titular Archbishop of Rusibisir (1981‍–‍1996) Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Ghana, Togo and Benin (1981‍–‍1986) Apostolic Nuncio to Korea (1986‍–‍1991) Apostolic Nuncio to Albania (1991‍–‍1996) Archbishop of Bombay (1996‍–‍2006) Orders Ordination 8 December 1958 by Valerian Gracias Consecration 19 June 1981 by Agostino Casaroli Created cardinal 21 February 2001 by Pope John Paul II Rank Cardinal priest Personal details Born Ivan Cornelius Dias (1936-04-14)14 April 1936 Bandra, Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India Died 19 June 2017(2017-06-19) (aged 81) Rome, Italy Buried Campo Verano 41°54′05″N 12°31′13″E / 41.9015°N 12.5203°E / 41.9015; 12.5203 Parents Carlo Nazaro Dias Maria Martins Dias Alma mater St. Stanislaus High School, Mumbai Motto Servus (Latin for 'Servant') Signature Coat of arms

Styles of Ivan Cornelius Dias Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Religious style Cardinal Informal style Cardinal See Bombay (Emeritus)

Ordination history of Ivan Dias History Priestly ordination Ordained by Valerian Gracias Date 8 December 1958 Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Agostino Casaroli Co-consecrators Achille Silvestrini, Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy Date 19 June 1982 Place St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City Cardinalate Elevated by Pope John Paul II Date 21 February 2001 Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Ivan Dias as principal consecrator Oswald Gracias 16 September 1997 Percival Joseph Fernandez 21 April 2001 Agnelo Rufino Gracias 21 April 2001 George Antonysamy 21 September 2005 António Francisco Jaca, S.V.D. 22 July 2007 Yves Marie Monot 7 September 2008

**Ivan Cornelius Dias** (14 April 1936 – 19 June 2017) was an Indian prelate and [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) of the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church). He was Prefect of the [Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples](/source/Congregation_for_the_Evangelization_of_Peoples) from 2006 to 2011, Archbishop of [Bombay](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Bombay) from 1996 to 2006, and before that a [papal ambassador](/source/Nuncio) in the [Balkans](/source/Balkans), [East Asia](/source/East_Asia), and [West Africa](/source/West_Africa). He was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 2001.[1]

## Biography

### Early life and ordination

Ivan Dias was born in [Bandra](/source/Bandra), a suburb of [Bombay](/source/Mumbai), to Carlos Nazaro Dias (d. 1953) and Maria Martins e Dias (d. 1991), both natives of [Goa](/source/Goa). Dias' ancestral village is Velsao, [Salcete](/source/Salcete), Goa. His father was [undersecretary](/source/Undersecretary) of the Home Department of the [government of Maharashtra](/source/Government_of_Maharashtra).[2] The second oldest of five children, he has four brothers: [Francis](/source/Francis_Dias) (a retired [lieutenant general](/source/Lieutenant_general) in the [Indian military](/source/Indian_Armed_Forces)), Ralph, Paul and Olaf (a doctor). After graduating from the [Jesuit](/source/Society_of_Jesus) [St. Stanislaus High School](/source/St._Stanislaus_High_School), he entered the [seminary](/source/Seminary) of the [Archdiocese of Bombay](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Bombay) and was later [ordained](/source/Holy_Orders) to the [priesthood](/source/Priesthood_(Catholic_Church)) by [Valerian Gracias](/source/Valerian_Gracias) on 8 December 1958.[3] He then did pastoral work in Bombay as [curate](/source/Curate) at St. Stephen's Church until 1961, when he was sent to Rome to further his studies. He there attended the [Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy](/source/Pontifical_Ecclesiastical_Academy) and the [Pontifical Lateran University](/source/Pontifical_Lateran_University), from where he obtained a [doctorate in canon law](/source/Doctor_of_Canon_Law) in 1964.[4]

### Secretariat of State

Dias worked in the [Vatican Secretariat of State](/source/Secretariat_of_State_(Holy_See)) preparing the 1964 visit of [Pope Paul VI](/source/Pope_Paul_VI) to India, during which he was raised to the rank of [Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness](/source/Monsignor) on 4 December.[4] From 1965 to 1973, he served as secretary of the [nunciatures](/source/Apostolic_Nunciature) in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Indonesia, Madagascar, [Réunion](/source/R%C3%A9union), the [Comoro Islands](/source/Comoro_Islands) and Mauritius. Returning to the Secretariat of State in Vatican City, he was head of the section for the [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union), the [Baltic states](/source/Baltic_states), Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania until 1981.[4]

### Nuncio and bishop

On 8 May 1981, Dias was appointed [Titular Archbishop](/source/Titular_bishop) of *Rusibisir* and [Apostolic Pro-Nuncio](/source/Nuncio) to Ghana, Togo and Benin by [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II). He received his [episcopal consecration](/source/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)) on the following 19 June from Cardinal [Agostino Casaroli](/source/Agostino_Casaroli), with Archbishops [Achille Silvestrini](/source/Achille_Silvestrini) and [Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy](/source/Duraisamy_Simon_Lourdusamy) serving as [co-consecrators](/source/Consecrator), at [St. Peter's Basilica](/source/St._Peter's_Basilica).[3] He selected as his episcopal [motto](/source/Motto): *"Servus"* ([Latin](/source/Latin): "Servant").[5] Dias was later named Apostolic Nuncio to [Korea](/source/Korea) on 20 June 1986, and [Apostolic Nuncio to Albania](/source/Nunciature_to_Albania) on 28 October 1991. In Albania, he was charged with rebuilding the [local church](/source/Roman_Catholicism_in_Albania) after nearly five decades of communist [rule](/source/Socialist_People's_Republic_of_Albania), inviting foreign [missionaries](/source/Catholic_missions) to the country and working with the [Albanian government](/source/Politics_of_Albania) to recover Catholic churches and [schools](/source/Catholic_school).[6]

### Archbishop

Recalled from the Vatican's diplomatic service, Dias was appointed the ninth [Archbishop of Bombay](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Bombay) on 8 November 1996.[7] He was an outspoken supporter of the controversial 2000 document of the [Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith](/source/Congregation_for_the_Doctrine_of_the_Faith) *[Dominus Iesus](/source/Dominus_Iesus)*, which declared that non-Catholics "are in a [gravely deficient situation](/source/Extra_Ecclesiam_nulla_salus) in comparison with those who, in the Church, have the fullness of the means of salvation."[8] Dias said the document was "a reaffirmation...[that] Jesus is the only savior of the world. We have a right to say who we are, and others can accept it or not."[6]

### Cardinal

[John Paul II](/source/John_Paul_II) appointed him [Cardinal-Priest](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) of [Spirito Santo alla Ferratella](/source/Spirito_Santo_alla_Ferratella) in the [consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) of 21 February 2001.[4] He was shortly afterwards named to the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See on 10 March 2001, and served as one of the three presidents at the 10th Ordinary Assembly of the [World Synod of Bishops](/source/Synod) from September to October 2001.[4]

In 2003, he delivered the [homily](/source/Homily) at the [beatification](/source/Beatification) [Mass](/source/Mass_(liturgy)) of [Mother Teresa](/source/Mother_Teresa), whom Dias had befriended during his tenure as a nuncio in Albania; he once said, "Reaching out to our fellow human beings, embracing the poor as Mother Teresa did, must become a common service for every Christian."[5] Lamenting the domination of the world "by information technology, by [New Age](/source/New_Age) teaching and by the decline of ethical values," Dias once stated that entire countries are being "crushed down by [godless](/source/Atheism) ideologies and enticing proposals that exalt the anti-God cultures, including the [culture of death](/source/Culture_of_life)."[6] He was one of the Cardinals considered *[papabile](/source/Papabile)* at the [2005 Papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2005) that selected [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI). [*TIME* Magazine](/source/Time_(magazine)) noted his "[s]trong diplomatic experience" and said his election "would represent a bold choice from the developing world."[9]

On 20 May 2006, he was appointed [Prefect](/source/Prefect) of the [Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples](/source/Congregation_for_the_Evangelization_of_Peoples), the top post overseeing the [Catholic missions](/source/Catholic_missions). He was also *[ex officio](/source/Ex_officio)* the [Grand Chancellor](/source/Chancellor_(education)) of the [Pontifical Urbaniana University](/source/Pontifical_Urbaniana_University). He presented his resignation as required on reaching the age of 75. It was accepted on 10 May 2011 when he was succeeded as Prefect by [Fernando Filoni](/source/Fernando_Filoni).[10]

Cardinal Dias was a member of the [Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith](/source/Congregation_for_the_Doctrine_of_the_Faith), the [Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments](/source/Congregation_for_Divine_Worship_and_the_Discipline_of_the_Sacraments), the [Congregation for the Oriental Churches](/source/Congregation_for_the_Oriental_Churches), the [Congregation for Catholic Education](/source/Congregation_for_Catholic_Education), the [Pontifical Council for Culture](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Culture), the [Pontifical Council for the Laity](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_the_Laity), the [Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Promoting_Christian_Unity), the [Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Interreligious_Dialogue), the [Pontifical Council for Social Communications](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Social_Communications), the [Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church](/source/Pontifical_Commission_for_the_Cultural_Heritage_of_the_Church) and the [Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Legislative_Texts).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Dias was one of the [cardinal electors](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_2013) who participated in the [2013 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2013) that selected [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis).[11]

Dias died in Rome on 19 June 2017.[12][13]

## Views

### Anti-Christian violence

During his tenure as Archbishop, Dias frequently condemned [anti-Christian discrimination](/source/Anti-Christian_violence_in_India) in Indian society by [Hindu fundamentalists](/source/Hindu_nationalism). In December 2001, he invited leaders of all Bombay's religious communities to his home for "a meeting for peace in a world torn apart by war and hatred."[6] In 2002, he denounced pressures put by Indian authorities on Catholic schools, which have "had to put up with uncooperative and abusive public officials as well intimidation."

### Abortion and homosexuality

Dias also established himself as [theologically conservative](/source/Conservatism), strongly maintaining the Church's stances against abortion and homosexuality.[14][15] He believed that gays and lesbians could be "[cured](/source/Ex-gay)" of their "unnatural tendencies" through the [Sacrament of Penance](/source/Sacrament_of_Penance_(Catholic_Church)).[6]

### Anglican communion

During a speech he gave at the [Lambeth Conference](/source/Lambeth_Conference), he expressed unrestrained disapproval of the changes the Anglican communion was experiencing. He said: "When we live myopically in the fleeting present, oblivious of our past heritage and apostolic traditions, we could well be suffering from spiritual Alzheimer's. [...] or ecclesial Parkinson's".[16]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Indian Cardinal Ivan Cornelius Dias dies – UCA News"](https://www.ucanews.com/news/indian-cardinal-ivan-cornelius-dias-dies/79551). *ucanews.com*. Retrieved 4 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-midday_2-0)** ["I am upset at the media hype"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091003003741/http://www.cardinalrating.com/cardinal_26__article_1073.htm). *Mid-day.com*. 4 April 2005. Archived from [the original](http://www.cardinalrating.com/cardinal_26__article_1073.htm) on 3 October 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hierarchy_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hierarchy_3-1) ["Ivan Cardinal Dias"](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdiasi.html). *Catholic-Hierarchy.org*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-miranda_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-miranda_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-miranda_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-miranda_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-miranda_4-4) Miranda, Salvador. ["DIAS, Ivan"](https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios-d.htm#Dias). *Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20000902000629/http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-d.htm#Dias) from the original on 2 September 2000. Retrieved 11 July 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-asianews_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-asianews_5-1) ["Card. Ivan Dias"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091003020353/http://www.cardinalrating.com/cardinal_26__article_2154.htm). *Asia News*. 3 October 2005. Archived from [the original](http://www.cardinalrating.com/cardinal_26__article_2154.htm) on 3 October 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cns_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cns_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-cns_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-cns_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-cns_6-4) ["Variety of experience gives cardinal from India high profile"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050406210108/http://www.catholicnews.com/jpii/cardinals/0501844.htm). *[Catholic News Service](/source/Catholic_News_Service)*. 1 April 2005. Archived from [the original](http://www.catholicnews.com/jpii/cardinals/0501844.htm) on 6 April 2005.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Cardinal Ivan Dias of Bombay passes away"](http://www.osservatoreromano.va/en/news/cardinal-ivan-dias-bombay-passes-away). *L'Osservatore Romano*. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dominus_8-0)** ["Dominus Iesus"](https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html). *[Holy See](/source/Holy_See)*. 6 August 2000.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-time_9-0)** Israely, Jeff (17 April 2005). ["Our Top Ten Papal Candidates"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050406021107/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1045517,00.html). *Time*. Archived from [the original](http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1045517,00.html) on 6 April 2005.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Pentin, Edward (10 May 2011). ["Benedict XVI Makes Two Key Vatican Appointments"](http://m.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/benedict-xvi-makes-two-key-vatican-appointments#.WUrvN0gpDYU). *National Catholic Register*. Retrieved 21 June 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Cardinal Ivan Dias passes away in Rome"](http://www.romereports.com/2017/06/19/cardinal-ivan-dias-passes-away-in-rome). *Rome Reports*. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Jaisinghani, Bella (19 June 2017). ["Former archbishop of Bombay Ivan Dias passes away in Rome"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/former-archbishop-of-bombay-ivan-dias-passes-away-in-rome/articleshow/59223433.cms). *The Times of India*. Retrieved 19 June 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Glatz, Carol (20 June 2017). ["Experienced diplomat, Indian Cardinal Dias dies at 81"](https://www.ncronline.org/person/ivan-dias). Catholic News Service. Retrieved 21 June 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-express_14-0)** ["Our cardinal in the Vatican"](http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/68253/). *The Indian Express*. 13 April 2005.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-npr_15-0)** Bradley Hagerty, Barbara (19 April 2005). ["Potential Successors to Pope John Paul II"](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4570955). [NPR](/source/NPR).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Butt, Riazat (23 July 2008). ["Cardinal accuses Anglican Communion of 'spiritual Alzheimer's'"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jul/23/anglicanism.religion). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 19 June 2017.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Ivan Dias](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ivan_Dias).

- [Archdiocese of Bombay](http://www.archbom.org/)

- [Catholic-Hierarchy.org](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdiasi.html) [\[*self-published*\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:SPS)

- [Article at AmericanCatholic.org](http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/JohnPaulII/transition/CardinalsDias.asp)

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Crescenzio Sepe Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples 20 May 2006 – 10 May 2011 Succeeded by Fernando Filoni Preceded by Simon Pimenta Archbishop of Bombay 8 November 1996 – 20 May 2006 Succeeded by Oswald Gracias

v t e Cardinals created by John Paul II 1979 Casaroli Caprio Cé Righi-Lambertini Căn Civardi Corripio y Ahumada Asajiro Satowaki Etchegaray Ballestrero Ó Fiaich Carter Macharski Rubin Kung Pin-mei 1983 Khoraish Yago Sabattani Kuharić Casoria Lebrún Moratinos Bernardin Kitbunchu do Nascimento López Trujillo Danneels Williams Martini Lustiger Glemp Vaivods Meisner de Lubac 1985 Dadaglio Lourdusamy Arinze Fresno Innocenti Obando y Bravo Mayer Suquía Goicoechea Hamer Vidal Gulbinowicz Tzadua Tomko Lubachivsky Deskur Poupard Vachon Decourtray Castillo Lara Wetter Piovanelli Simonis Gagnon Stickler Law O'Connor Biffi Pavan 1988 Martínez Somalo Silvestrini Felici Grégoire Padiyara Freire Falcão Giordano dos Santos Canestri Javierre Ortas Pimenta Revollo Bravo Clancy Moreira Neves Hickey Szoka Paskai Tumi Groër Martin Hensbach Sladkevičius Margéot Wu 1991 Sodano Todea Laghi Cassidy Coffy Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi López Rodríguez Sanchez Noè Quarracino Angelini Mahony Posadas Ocampo Bevilacqua Saldarini Daly Ruini Korec Schwery Sterzinsky del Mestri Dezza 1994 Sfeir Vlk Poggi Shirayanagi Fagiolo Furno Oviedo Cavada Winning Suárez Rivera Ortega y Calamino Darmaatmadja Schotte Eyt Agustoni Wamala Keeler Vargas Alzamora Turcotte Carles Gordó Maida Puljić Razafindratandra Tụng Sandoval Íñiguez Echeverría Ruiz Świątek Tonini Koliqi Congar Grillmeier 1998 Medina Estévez Bovone Castrillón Hoyos Antonelli Stafford De Giorgi Fernandes de Araújo Rouco Varela Ambrozic Balland Tettamanzi Pengo Schönborn Rivera Carrera George Shan Kuo-hsi Kozłowiecki Cheli Colasuonno Monduzzi Jaworski Pujats 2001 Re Thuận Cacciavillan Sebastiani Grocholewski Saraiva Martins Sepe Mejía Daoud Pompedda Kasper Degenhardt González Zumárraga Dias Majella Agnelo Rubiano Sáenz McCarrick Connell Bačkis Errázuriz Ossa Terrazas Sandoval Napier Rodríguez Maradiaga Agré Billé Velasco Cipriani Thorne Álvarez Martínez Hummes Vithayathil Bergoglio Policarpo Poletto Murphy-O'Connor Egan Huzar Lehmann Ghattas Honoré Tucci Scheffczyk Dulles 2003 Tauran Martino Marchisano Herranz Casado Lozano Barragán Hamao Nicora Scola Okogie Panafieu Zubeir Wako Amigo Vallejo Rigali O'Brien Scheid Antonelli Bertone Turkson Toppo Pell Bozanić Mẫn Quezada Toruño Barbarin Erdő Ouellet Cottier Joos Špidlík Nagy Catholic Church portal

[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [Biography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography)
- [Catholicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Catholicism)
- [India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:India)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Italy Czech Republic Poland Other IdRef Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ivan Dias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Dias) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Dias?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.