Bengaluru: The funeral and burial services of Archbishop Emeritus Ignatius Pinto of Bangalore Archdiocese who passed away on February 8, 2023 will be held on Friday (10 February 2023) at 10 a.m. St. Francis Xavier’s’ Cathedral, Fraser Town, Bengaluru.
The prelate died at 1.30 a.m. at the Senior Citizens’ Home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor, Richmond Town, Bengaluru, due to age-related sickness. He was 98 years old.
Archbishop Pinto was Born on 18 May 1925 at Bantval a taluk in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. He received Baptism on 23 May 1925 at Holy Family Church, Omzoor, Mangalore. He did his studies at St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore and at Loyola College, Madras. He did his seminary formation at St. Mary’s Seminary, Bangalore and Papal Seminary, Kandy, Srilanka.
In 1953, he served as assistant parish priest at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mariapura and during that year, he was also appointed as Secretary at Bishop’s House and Professor at St. Mary’s Seminary, Bangalore. From 1954 to 1956, he served as assistant parish priest at Our Lady of Victories Church, Campion Reefs. In 1956, he served as Secretary at Archbishop’s House, Bangalore. From 1957 to 1960, he did HR studies at Madras. In 1960, he was appointed as Chancellor and Secretary at Archbishop’s House and was in charge of the St. Thomas Building.
From 1961 to 1970, he served as Principal and Manager of St. Joseph’s School, Briand Square. In 1968, he was elected to the Priest’s Council and in 1972 he was appointed as the member of the College of Consulters of the Archdiocese of Bangalore. From 1971 to 1978, he served as Principal of St. Aloysius Junior College, Cox Town. From 1978 to 1986, he served as Parish Priest at SFX Cathedral, Cox Town.
In 1986, he served as Administrator of the Archdiocese of Bangalore. From 1986 to 1988, he served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Bangalore.
On 14 Nov 1988 the Msgr. lgnatius Pinto, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Bangalore was appointed as First Bishop of Shimoga diocese by His Holiness Pope John Paul II through his Apostolic Letter “Bonevolentiam Quidem Nostram.” The Episcopal Ordination of the first bishop of Shimoga took place on 31 Jan 1989, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral ground, Shimoga. He was promoted as Archbishop of Bangalore on 10 Sept 1998 and was installed on 25 November 1998.
The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Archbishop Ignatius Pinto in conformity with the Code of Canon Law on 22 July 2004. Archbishop Emeritus Ignatius Pinto celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of his Priesthood on 24 Aug 2012. He is a priest for 70 years, a Bishop for 34 years.
On behalf of all the priests, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese and entire Christian Community, His Grace Archbishop Peter Machado expressed his deepest condolences to his siblings, close family members, relatives and friends. “We pray that Almighty God may give all of them the needed spiritual strength to accept this irreparable loss in the spirit of true Christian faith and hope.”