Cardinal Oswald Gracias arrives for a pre-conclave meeting at the Vatican on March 9, 2013. Pope Francis re-nominated him in October 2020 to the Council of Cardinals. (Photo: Filipo Monteforte/AFP)
Pope Francis has re-nominated Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, to the Council of Cardinals that advises him on the reform of the Church's administrative systems.
Pope Francis also re-nominated the 75-year-old Cardinal Gracias to the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, the highest body in the Church on matters regarding Canon Law, said an Oct 21 official communique from Indian bishops' conference.
The Vatican body for Legislative Texts has the responsibility to propose amendments and changes in the Canon Law and is entrusted with giving authentic interpretations of the Canon Law Code.
Cardinal Gracias has been a member of the Council of Cardinals since Pope Francis announced its formation in April 2013, a month after his electionion as pope.
Council of Cardinals was also known as C9 as it originally had nine members handpicked by the pope as his advisers.
The council currently has seven members after Pope Francis removed three of its original members in late 2018 and appointed a new member in 2020.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of Kinshasa was appointed to the Council after Congolese Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya was moved from the Council.
The Secretary of the Council of Cardinals, Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, was moved to Congregation for the Causes of Saints as its Prefect.
The other member who was moved from the council was Cardinal Geroge Pell, retired archbishop Sydney.