From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jun 10: Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy, who passed away in Rome on June 5, was laid to rest in Pondicherry on Monday.
The funeral mass and burial service was held at the Immaculate Conception cathedral, Pondicherry.
Around 40 Bishops, 300 priests, hundreds of religious sisters and a large number of faithful attended the funeral service.
The first Cardinal of south Asia and Cardinal from Pondicherry Archdiocese, Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy’s body was buried inside the church of Immaculate Conception the Cathedral of Pondicherry Archdiocese.
The Chief Minister of Pondicherry, State Cabinet Ministers and a large number of eminent personalities also attended the funeral mass.
The funeral mass was presided by Dr Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio to India, was the main celebrant at the funeral mass.
Cardinal Telesphore P Toppo, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church; Archbishop of Chennai Dr George Antoniswamy, Dr Anandaraiar, Archbishop of Pondicherry and Most Rev Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore, concelebrated at the mass.
Archbishop Bernard moras represented the entire Karnataka Bishops and Board of Bishops of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore.
Archbishop Moras, in his message, said the greatness of Cardinal Lourdusamy’s service for the church of Karnataka, especially the service that he endured during his tenure as the Archbishop of Bangalore and for the universal Catholic Church.