Anthony Poola
{{short description|Indian Latin Catholic bishop (born 1961)}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Cardinal
| honorific-prefix = His Eminence
| name = Anthony Poola
| honorific-suffix = D. D.
| title = Cardinal, Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad
| image = Poola Anthony.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| church = Roman Catholic Church
| archdiocese = Archdiocese of Hyderabad
| province =
| metropolis =
| diocese =
| see = Hyderabad
| elected =
| appointed = 19 November 2020
| term =
| term_start = 3 January 2021
| quashed =
| term_end =
| predecessor = Thumma Bala
| opposed =
| successor =
| other_post =
| ordination = 20 February 1992
| ordinated_by =
| consecration = 19 April 2008
| consecrated_by = Marampudi Joji
| cardinal = 27 August 2022
| created_cardinal_by = Pope Francis
| rank = Cardinal Priest
| birth_name = Anthony Poola
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|11|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Poluru, Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh
| death_date =
| death_place =
| buried =
| nationality =
| religion = Christianity
| residence = India
| parents = Smt. Arogyamma (Mother)
Sri P. C. Anthony (Father)
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation =
| profession =
| previous_post = {{unbulleted list|Bishop of Kurnool (2008–2020)|}}
| education = *B. Ph. (Urban)
- B. Th. (Urban)
- B. Com. (Sri Krishnadevaraya)
- Certificate in Clinical pastoral education (Methodist)
- Certificate in religion and theological engagement (Loyola)
| alma_mater = *Zilla Parishad School in Chindhukur and Gadivemula {{small|(1967-1972; 1972-1975)}}
- St. Mary's High School, Kurnool {{small|(1977-1979)}}
- Minor Seminary, Kurnool {{small|(1979-1980)}}
- STBC-Coles Memorial Junior College, Kurnool {{small|(1980-1982)}}
- STBC College, Kurnool {{small|(1982-1985)}}
- St. Paul's Seminary, Nuziveedu {{small|(1985-1986)}}
- St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore {{small|(1986-1992)}}
- Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo (United States) {{small|(2001-2002)}}
- Loyola University, Chicago (United States) {{small|(2002-2003)}}
| motto = Good news to the poor
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Anthony Poola (Card).svg
| coat_of_arms_alt =
}}
{{Infobox Cardinal styles
| name= Anthony Poola
| dipstyle= His Eminence
| offstyle=Your Eminence
| relstyle= Cardinal
| See=Hyderabad
| image = Coat of arms of Anthony Poola (Card).svg
| image_size = 200px
}}
Anthony Poola (born 15 November 1961) is an Indian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad since 2021. He was Bishop of Kurnool from 2008 to 2020. Before becoming a bishop, he worked as a priest of the Diocese of Cuddapah.
On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis elevated Poola to Cardinal at a consistory held in Vatican. He is the first Dalit and the first Telugu to be named a cardinal.{{cite news | access-date = 31 May 2022 | url = https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/hyderabad-archbishop-anthony-poola-be-first-dalit-cardinal-164485?amp | work = The News Minute | title = Hyderabad Archbishop Anthony Poola to be first Dalit cardinal | date = 30 May 2022 }}
Biography
Anthony Poola was born on 15 November 1961 in Chindukur, Durvesi Parish, in the Diocese of Kurnool. When poverty forced to leave school after the seventh grade, missionaries took an interest in him and helped him continue his schooling.{{cite interview | access-date = 11 June 2022 | url = https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-06/dalit-india-consistory-cardinal-anthony-poola-interview.html | publisher = Vatican News | title = First Dalit Cardinal: My mission, help as many poor children as possible | date = 8 June 2022 }} After attending the Minor Seminary in Nuzvid, he studied at St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore. He was ordained a priest on 20 February 1992 and incardinated in the Diocese of Cuddapah.
He held the following positions: 1992-1993: parish vicar of St. Mary's Cathedral from 1992 to 1993; parish vicar in Amagampalli from 1993 to 1994; pastor in Tekurpet from 1994 to 1995; pastor in Badvel from 1995 to 2000; pastor in Veerapalli from 2000 to 2001. He studied for a master's degree in health pastoral care and took courses in theology at Loyola University Chicago. He also worked at St. Genevieve Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Returning to his home diocese of Cuddapah, he was director of the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging from 2004 to 2008. He was also Diocesan Consultor, Secretary for Education, Deputy Administrator of the Schools of the Diocese and Coordinator of the Sponsorship Program.
On 8 February 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Kurnool.{{cite press release | access-date = 31 May 2022 | date = 8 February 2008 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/02/08/0082/00202.html | language = it |title = Rinunce e Nomine, 08.02.2008}}
On 19 November 2020, Pope Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad.{{cite press release | access-date = 31 May 2022 | date = 19 November 2020 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/11/19/0597/01401.html | language = it |title = Rinunce e Nomine, 19.11.2020}} He was installed there on 3 January 2021.{{cite news | url = https://telanganatoday.com/rev-anthony-poola-installed-as-archbishop-of-hyderabad/amp | date = 3 January 2021 | access-date = 31 May 2022 | title = Rev. Anthony Poola installed as Archbishop of Hyderabad | work = Telagana Today }}
On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis made him a cardinal priest, assigning him the title of Santi Protomartiri a Via Aurelia Antica.{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2022/documents/ns_lit_doc_20220827_titoli-diaconie-nuovi-cardinali_it.html|title=Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali|date=27 August 2022|website=The Holy See|publisher=Ufficio delle Celebrazioni Liturgiche del Sommo Pontefice|language=it|trans-title=Assignment of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals|access-date=29 August 2022|archive-url=|archive-date=}} He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 papal conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.{{cite web| url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html| title=Cardinal Electors|date=6 May 2025|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|language=en|access-date=6 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
;Additional sources
- {{cite news | date = 29 May 2022 |url = https://ccbi.in/abp-anthony-poola-will-be-elevated-as-cardinal/ | newspaper = Ccbi| title = Abp. Anthony Poola Will Be Elevated As Cardinal | first = Stephen | last = Alathara }}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
{{commonscat}}
- {{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_poola_a.html| title=Poola Card. Anthony|website=Holy See Press Office|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828005138/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_poola_a.html|archive-date=28 August 2022|url-status=live}}
- {{cite web | website = Catholic Hierarchy | url = https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bpoola.html | title = Archbishop Anthony Poola }}
{{College of Cardinals}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poola, Anthony}}
Category:People from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Christian clergy from Andhra Pradesh