Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Catholics in Pakistan
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - For his services to the nation in the field of interreligious dialogue and the promotion of harmony, as well as for his contribution to the social welfare of Pakistan and the protection of the rights of minorities, Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi, was awarded the "Tamgha-i-Imtiaz" Medal of Excellence, conferred by the President of the Republic of Pakistan. This award ("Medal of Excellence") is given to Pakistani or foreign citizens who have distinguished themselves in public service to the country and contributed to improving the nation.
At the ceremony, which took place yesterday, March 23, in Islamabad, more than 100 people engaged in various social fields were awarded with various recognitions. In Cardinal Coutts's case, the initiatives he initiated during his long pastoral service as a priest and bishop in the areas of healthcare, education, charity, and solidarity without discrimination, aimed at promoting community well-being throughout Pakistan, were recognized. "His service to humanity and his role in uniting different faiths are a source of inspiration for all Pakistanis," said Pakistani President Ali Zardari, emphasizing the Cardinal's commitment to the nation's peace and well-being. Today, Cardinal Joseph Coutts is the first Catholic to head the Christian Studies Center in Rawalpindi, a well-known ecumenical center that has been promoting interreligious dialogue and social harmony in the country for over 50 years. Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi, was born in 1945 and ordained a priest in 1971 for the clergy of Lahore. In 1988, he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Hyderabad and assumed the leadership of the Diocese of Hyderabad in 1990. In 1998, he was appointed head of the Diocese of Faisalabad and in 2012, he was transferred to the Metropolitan See of Karachi, where he served as Metropolitan Archbishop until February 2021. Pope Francis created him a Cardinal at the 2018 Consistory. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 24/3/2025)
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