Cardinal Simon Pimenta was born in India in 1920 and ordained as a priest in 1949. He became an auxiliary bishop of Bombay in 1971 and was made coadjutor in 1977. Pimenta succeeded as bishop of Bombay in 1978 and was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1988, retiring in 1996. He earned several advanced degrees and served three terms as president of the Indian Bishops conference. Pimenta died in 2013 at the age of 93.

1. Cardinal
Simon
Pimenta

2. Cardinal Pimenta’s Stats
Born March 1, 1920,
in India.
Ordained a priest on
December 21, 1949.
Ordained Aux. Bishop
of Bombay June 29,
1971. He was made
coadjutor in 1977.

3. Cardinal Pimenta’s Stats
Succeeded on
September 11, 1978.
Created cardinal
on June 28, 1988 by
Pope John Paul II.
Retired on
November 8, 1996.
Died on July 19, 2013.

4. Cardinal Pimenta’s Facts
Earned a doctorate in canon law.
Served three consecutive terms as
President of the Indian Bishops.
Served as President of the Synod of Bishops in 1990. The
subject was the formation of priests.
Before priesthood, he earned a baccalaureate in
pedagogy and mathematics from State University.
Motto: “Rooted and Grounded in Love.”

5. College of Cardinals
With the
death of
Cardinal Pimenta,
the College of
Cardinals now
has 203 members,
112 of which are under the age of 80 and thus
eligible to vote in a papal conclave.
Cardinal Pimenta did not vote in the 2005 or
2013 conclaves because he was over 80.