Beltangady: Thousands Bid Tearful Adieu to Archbishop Dr Ambrose Madtha
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (VM)
Update
Beltangady, Dec 15: The mortal remains of papal envoy to Ivory Coast Archbishop Dr Ambrose Madtha, who passed away in a tragic accident at Ivory Coast, were laid to rest at Holy Redeemer Church, Beltangady here on Saturday December 15, amidst a solemn gathering of nearly 3,500 people.
Dr Ambrose Madtha was laid to rest inside the Church premises.
The funeral Mass was led by Apostolic Nuncio of India Salvatore Pennacchio with bishop of Mangalore Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza as the concelebrant.
Auxiliary bishop of Delhi Archdiocese Dr Franco Mulakkal read out the message by Pope Benedict XVI.
In the message, the Pope said that as an Archnbishop Dr Madtha had put in good efforts to promote peace and unity. "We have lost a gem of a person. The Church has lost a good ambassador," the message stated.
The Nuncio in his sermon said that Dr Madtha was his good friend and that he was saddened by the incident. "I am here to represent Pope Benedict XVI. I am thankful to the representatives of Ivory Coast who have come all the way," he said.
"Life and death are god's desire, and now we are offering Dr Madtha to god," he added.
Condolence messages were also conveyed by Mangalore bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Dr Madtha's family member Wilson Madtha, Beltangady parish council vice-president Fr Vincent Madtha, Lucknow bishop Dr Gerald Mathias and Ivory Coast foreign minister Charles Koffi Diby.
Ivory Coast minister of social affairs Anne Desiree Oulopo, president of Episcopal Conference Dr Alexis Touabli Youlo and Archbishop of Abidjan Dr Jean-Pierre Kutwa were among the delegates present.
Bishop Lawrence Mukkuzhy of Beltangady, Bishop Dr Oswald Lewis of Jaipur, Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi, Bishop Dr Anthony Swamy of Chikmagalur, Bishop Geevarghese Mar Divannasios of Puttur, were among the other bishops present.
Among the priests present were Fr Francis Rodrgues, Fr Denis Prabhu, Fr William Menezes, Fr Ritesh Rodrigues, Fr Alfred Pinto, Fr Simon D'Souza, Fr Anil D'Souza, Fr Gregory D'Souza, Fr Richard Lasrado, Fr James D'Souza, Fr Melvin Noronha, Fr Valerian Menezes, and Fr Andrew.
Earlier, a short prayer service was offered at the Bishop's House in Beltangady.
Oscar Fernandes and his wife Blossom, MLA Vasanth Bangera and others paid their last respects together with around 3,500 priests, nuns and laity who had gathered.
Earlier Report
Mangalore: Mortals Remains of Archbishop Ambrose Madtha Reach City
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)
Mangalore, Dec 15: The mortal remains of papal envoy to Ivory Coast, Archbishop Ambrose Madtha, who was killed in an accident at Ivory Coast last week, arrived at Mangalore International Airport here on Saturday December 15.
The body was reached Mangalore by a special flight from Ivory Coast at around 1 pm, after a delay of about 24 hours due to a technical snag in the flight at Ethiopia.
Apostolic Nuncio of India Salvatore Pennacchio, Bangalore Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras, Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore, Bishop Dr Henry D'Souza of Bellary and a number of other priests received the mortal remains at the airport.
Bishops and foreign minister of Ivory Coast accompanied the body. A short prayer service was held before the ambulance left the premises.
An entourage of around 15 vehicles with bishops, priests and other officials accompanied the ambulance from Mangalore Airport to Beltangady where the last rites will be held. Tight police security was deployed.
A public homage that was scheduled at Mangalore on Friday December 13 had to be cancelled due to the delay in flight. A requiem Mass was offered at Rosario Cathedral by the Nuncio the same evening.
A Mass will be offered at Holy Redeemer Church, Beltangady in sometime from now. Live streaming of the Mass will be webcast on TvDaijiworld.