Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay, has held many significant leadership positions in the Church including serving on Pope Francis’ nine-member Council of Cardinal Advisers but who latterly has faced accusations of mishandling abuse cases.

Born on December 24, 1944, in Mahim, Mumbai, India, after being ordained priest on December 20, 1970, he obtained a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a diploma in jurisprudence from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

His early career included roles such as chancellor and secretary to the Bishop of Jamshedpur, parochial vicar, and secretary to the Archbishop of Bombay as well as chancellor of the same diocese.

Gracias’ ascent in the Church hierarchy began with his appointment as titular Bishop of Bladia and Auxiliary of Bombay in 1997. He was later appointed Archbishop of Agra in 2000 before becoming the Archbishop of Bombay in 2006. His most significant elevation came on November 24, 2007, when Pope Benedict XVI created him a cardinal.

In 2008 in Washington, D.C., Gracias underwent surgery for a rare form of cancer. He recovered completely.

Throughout his career, Cardinal Gracias has held numerous leadership positions within the Catholic Church. He served as the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). He was also elected as the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) in 2011.

Cardinal Gracias participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis, and in the same year, Francis selected him as a member of the Council of Cardinals, a group established to advise the Pope and study plans for reforming the Roman Curia. He was also mentioned as a possible candidate for the papacy during the previous conclave.

In 2017, Pope Francis granted him the title of Lawyer of the Roman Rota, further recognizing his expertise in canon law.

Despite his numerous achievements, Cardinal Gracias has faced controversy. In 2019, he was accused of failing to respond adequately to allegations of sexual abuse within the Church. According to a BBC report, he may have violated India’s Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) by failing to report abuse allegations to the police.

In a separate incident, Cardinal Gracias was recorded in a phone conversation with Bishop Kannikadass William Antony, who was accused of fathering a child. In this conversation, Gracias allegedly suggested arranging a paternity test at a Catholic hospital to “control the media, control the doctors, control the publicity given to the whole thing.” This has been interpreted as an attempt to manage the scandal rather than address it transparently.

Cardinal Gracias admitted that he “could have handled sexual abuse cases better.” The full resolution of these cases and any potential consequences for Cardinal Gracias are still developing.

The Indian cardinal has taken a strong pro-life stance against abortion. He led a “March for Life” in Pune, Maharashtra to protest India’s abortion law. Cardinal Gracias, along with other participants, submitted a memorandum supporting the rights of the unborn to local authorities.

In 2011, he expressed his relief at the Indian Supreme Court’s decision to reject the plea for the mercy killing of a nurse who was in a semi-comatose condition for over three decades. The cardinal said that “allowing one to die amounts to actively supporting taking away one’s life.”

Like many Indian prelates, he views climate change as a major issue that needs to be addressed. He has signed documents calling for action against climate change and stated that the Church cannot rest until “the Paris agreement is fulfilled, adhered to and followed up.” He sees climate change as closely linked to issues like deforestation, illegal mining, and ecological impact.

Cardinal Gracias believes synodality is the way forward for the Catholic Church. He sees it as a natural development arising from ecclesiology and theology, emphasizing the baptismal responsibility of all believers and the need for an inclusive, participatory church. However, he acknowledges there may be “roadblocks” to implementing synodality, similar to challenges faced after Vatican II.

In 2019, the cardinal suggested that a pathway to married priests is still an open possibility. And during the 2019 Synod of Bishops he suggested in his intervention that following present canon law could present possibilities for married men to be ordained to the priesthood, mentioning that special dispensations could be granted.

On migration, he recognizes its complex nature and has noted that in Asia, migration is often viewed as both advantageous for local economies and a potential “brain-drain.” The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, under his leadership, has launched initiatives to support migrants, recognizing the Church’s “duty to accompany migrants.” Cardinal Gracias has also emphasized the importance of migrants for urban economies and construction.

Regarding restrictions on the vetus ordo, Cardinal Gracias briefly mentioned Traditionis Custodes in an interview, stating that there have been “only really tiny pockets of resistance [to the decree] but nothing much in Asia,” unlike in North American and some other Western countries.