Rome: His Holiness, Pope Francis has appointed His Lordship Rt. Rev. Elias Gonsalves, until now Bishop of Amravati, as the new Archbishop of Nagpur. This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on Monday.
His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Elias Gonsalves, was born on 4th July, 1961, in Chulna Village, Vasai Road, Thane, Maharashtra. He studied at St. Pius X Seminary, Mumbai and was ordained priest on 1st April, 1990 in Vasai, for the Archdiocese of Bombay. He has a B.A. in History and Economics, from Bombay University (1982), he did his studies in Community Based Development and Leadership, from St. Francis Xavier University, Coady Institute, Canada, and studies in Counselling.
He was Assistant Parish Priest at Nandakhal, Vasai (1990-1991) and Sandor, Vasai (1991-1997); Youth Coordinator for South Vasai Deanery (1993-1996); Priest in-charge at Roha (1997-2004); Priest in-charge at Panvel (2005-2008); Asst. Director and then Director, Centre for Social Action, Mumbai (2008-2012); Director, Sarvodaya Centre for Capacity Building, Mumbai (2009-2012).
He was elected Bishop of Amravati on 11th July, 2012 and consecrated on 29th September, 2012. As Bishop, he has been in charge of Catholic Education in the Western Region Catholic Bishops’ Council.
The Catholic Bishops’ Council of India (CBCI) in a statement greeted Archbishop-elect Elias Gonsalves on his new role.