Anil Joseph Thomas Couto

{{short description|Indian Latin Catholic archbishop (born 1954)}}

{{Infobox Christian leader

| type = archbishop

| honorific-prefix = The Most Reverend

| name = Anil Joseph Thomas Couto

| honorific-suffix =

| title = Archbishop of Delhi

| alt =

| image = Anil Joseph Thomas Couto.png

| archdiocese = Archdiocese of Delhi

| diocese =

| see = Delhi

| appointed = 2 December 2012

| term_start = 20 January 2013

| predecessor = Vincent M. Concessao

| successor =

| other_post = Chairman of the CBCI Office for Clergy and Religious Dialogue

| ordination = 8 February 1981

| ordained_by =

| consecration = 11 March 2001

| consecrated_by = Vincent Michael Concessao

| cardinal =

| rank =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|9|22|df=y}}

| birth_place = Pomburpa, Goa, Portuguese India

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality =

| residence = Archbishop's House 1 Ashok Place, New Delhi - 110 001

| previous_post = Bishop of Jalandhar

| alma_mater = Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas

| coat_of_arms =

| motto = {{unbulleted list|English - "That They May All Be One"|Hindi - "Sab Ke Sab, Ek Ho Jaye"|Punjabi - "SARIYANTE SARE EK HO JAAN"}}

}}

{{Infobox bishopstyles |

name=Anil Joseph Thomas Couto |

dipstyle=The Most Reverend |

offstyle=Your Excellency |

relstyle=Monsignor |

deathstyle= |}}

Anil Joseph Thomas Couto{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/archbishop-anil-couto-urges-pm-to-introduce-reservation-for-christian-dalits_1547986.html|title=Archbishop Anil Couto urges PM to introduce reservation for Christian Dalits|date=2015-02-17|work=Zee News|access-date=2017-08-25|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.pujyaswamiji.org/dt_galleries/pujya-swamiji-shares-a-loving-moment-with-archbishop-of-delhi-his-grace-anil-joseph-thomas-couto-and-father-dominic-emmanuel/|title=H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji {{!}} Pujya Swamiji with Archbishop of Delhi, His Grace Anil Joseph Thomas Couto and Father Dominic Emmanuel|last=designthemes|website=www.pujyaswamiji.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-25|archive-date=25 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825194418/http://www.pujyaswamiji.org/dt_galleries/pujya-swamiji-shares-a-loving-moment-with-archbishop-of-delhi-his-grace-anil-joseph-thomas-couto-and-father-dominic-emmanuel/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/topic/delhi-archbishop-anil-joseph-thomas-couto|title=Delhi Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto News, Latest Breaking News on Delhi Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto {{!}} Daily News & Analysis|website=dna|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-25}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/pm-should-deliver-on-promises-to-minorities-anil-joseph-thomas-couto-115022100750_1.html|title=PM should deliver on promises to minorities: Anil Joseph Thomas Couto|last=Sreedathan|first=G.|date=2015-02-21|work=Business Standard|access-date=2017-08-25}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/tag/monsignor-anil-joseph-thomas-couto/|title=Tag: Monsignor Anil Joseph Thomas Couto {{!}} CatholicHerald.co.uk|website=CatholicHerald.co.uk|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-25}}{{Cite web|url=http://sacredheartcathedraldelhi.org/|title=Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, New Delhi|website=sacredheartcathedraldelhi.org|access-date=2017-05-09}} is the serving archbishop of the Archdiocese of Delhi.{{Cite web|url=http://www.icym.net/news/national-news/606-archbishop-anil-joseph-thomas-couto-is-installed-as-archbishop-of-delhi|title=Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto is installed as Archbishop of Delhi - Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM)|last=Administrator|website=www.icym.net|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825190309/http://www.icym.net/news/national-news/606-archbishop-anil-joseph-thomas-couto-is-installed-as-archbishop-of-delhi|archive-date=25 August 2017|url-status=dead}}

Early life

He was born on 22 September 1954 in Pomburpa, Goa, to Mr. Avito Piedade Jose Couto and Mrs. Ernestina Isabel Lobo e Couto.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rosaryschool.in/our-patron.aspx|title=Our Patron|website=www.rosaryschool.in|access-date=2017-08-25}} Joseph Coutts, Archbishop of Karachi and cardinal, is his first cousin.[https://itsgoa.com/goan-origin-archbishop-joseph-coutts-appointed-cardinal-by-pope Goan origin archbishop Joseph Coutts appointed cardinal by Pope]. Its Goa.

Education

Anil received his primary education at a Government Primary School and thereafter at St. Elizabeth's High School at Pomburpa, Goa. He did his ecclesiastical studies at the Seminary of Our Lady at Saligao and his philosophical studies at the Patriarchal Seminary at Rachol in Goa. Completed Master of Theology Degree in Ecumenism at Vidyajyoti and acquired his Doctorate in Ecumenical Theology at St. Thomas Aquinas Pontifical University (Angelicum), Rome.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rosaryschool.in/our-patron.aspx|title=Our Patron|website=www.rosaryschool.in|access-date=2017-07-06}}

Religious journey

He was ordained a priest for Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi on 8 February 1981. Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi on 17 January 2001, he was ordained bishop on 11 March 2001. He was appointed Episcopal Vicar by late Archbishop Alan de Lastic 1999 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi & Titular Bishop of Cenculiana on 17 January 2001. His Episcopal Ordination was held on 11 March 2001. He was transferred as Bishop of Jalandhar on 24 February 2007 and he took charge of it on 15 April 2007. He also served as the Rector of the Delhi Archdiocesan Minor Seminary, "Vinay Gurukul", in Gurgaon. In 1991 he was appointed the Rector of 'Pratiksha', Major Seminary, in Delhi.

Archbishop

He was appointed the Archbishop of Delhi on 2 December 2012, replacing Archbishop Vincent Concessao, who passed the canonical retirement age of 75 the previous year.

He also serves as the ecumenism chairman of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops' of India. He is a member of the Commission for Inter Religious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI).{{Cite web|url=http://www.archdiocesedelhi.org/Biography.aspx|title=Biography|website=www.archdiocesedelhi.org|access-date=2017-04-25}}{{Cite web|url=http://synod14.vatican.va/content/sinodo/it/sinodo2014/events/event.dir.html/content/sinodoevents/it/2014/10/15/enginterviewwithaniljosephthomascouto.html|title=(ENG) Interview with +Anil Joseph Thomas Couto|website=Vatican.va|access-date=2017-04-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426062910/http://synod14.vatican.va/content/sinodo/it/sinodo2014/events/event.dir.html/content/sinodoevents/it/2014/10/15/enginterviewwithaniljosephthomascouto.html|archive-date=26 April 2017|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://cbci.in/all-Commissions/Clergy-Religious.aspx|title=Catholic Bishops' Conference of India|website=cbci.in|access-date=2017-04-25}}

Controversial political comments

Anil Couto, in a letter written to all parish priests and religious institutions in the Delhi archdiocese, has claimed that a "turbulent political atmosphere" in the country posed a threat to India's constitutional principles and secular fabric. Reacting to the development, Government Minister Giriraj Singh said in a tweet, "The church receives an order from Italy whereas pseudo-seculars get their support from Pakistan. The day will soon come when the Hindus understand this and smash both to save India".{{Cite news | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/64274669.cms | title=Godmen should stay away from politics: Alphons on Delhi archbishop letter| newspaper=The Economic Times| date=22 May 2018}}