Benny Mario Travas

Benny Mario Travas is a Pakistani prelate of the Catholic Church and Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan. He served as Bishop of Multan from 2015-2021.

His Grace

Benny Mario Travas
Archbishop of Karachi
ChurchRoman Catholic
SeeKarachi
Installed11 April 2021
PredecessorJoseph Coutts
Orders
Ordination21 November 1990
Consecration15 August 2015
by Ghaleb Moussa Abdalla Bader
Personal details
Born (1966-11-21) 21 November 1966
Karachi, Pakistan
Previous post(s)Bishop of Multan

Biography

Travas was born in Karachi, Pakistan, on 21 November 1966. He received his early education from St. Patrick's High School, Karachi from where he graduated in 1983.[1] He graduated from the Christ the King seminary and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Karachi on 7 December 1990 and then spent seven years in pastoral work.[2]

In 1997, he received a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome.[3] On his return to Pakistan he was professor of canon law at the National Catholic Institute of Theology, rector of St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Karachi, and Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Karachi. He was also a judge of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Karachi and a member of the College of Consultors and of the Priests' Council.[2] He was Vice President of the Catholic Board of Education.[4]

On 13 June 2014, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Andrew Francis of Multan and appointed Travas as Apostolic Administrator.[5] On 29 May 2015, Pope Francis appointed Travas Bishop of Multan.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on 15 August 2015 from Archbishop Ghaleb Moussa Abdalla Bader, Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan.[6]

In 2016 he was appointed Chair of Caritas Pakistan.[7] In December 2016, at a meeting of Asian bishops, he described the principal challenges facing the Catholic Church in Pakistan as charges brought under the blasphemy laws and mob violence, as well as poverty, drug addiction, and the shortage of priests.[8]

In October 2016 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.[9] In February 2019, he was elected secretary of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy.[10]

On 13 June 2020, he inaugurated St. Peter’s CSS Academy in Multan. The Academy encourages and facilitates Catholics to appear for the Central Superior Services (CSS) exams that lead to federal public service jobs. This is the first time a concerted effort has been made to promote Catholics into the public service.[11]

In 2020 Travas went into isolation after he tested positive for Covid-19.[12]

On 11 February 2021, Pope Francis appointed Travas to succeed Joseph Coutts as Archbishop of Karachi.[13] Travas was installed as Archbishop of Karachi at the St Patrick’s Cathedral on 11 April 2021.[14]

References
  1. Dawn February 12, 2021
  2. "Rinunce e nomine, 29.05.2015" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  3. "Grandson of Goa is new Multan bishop". Times of India. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  4. "Pope Francis Names 54-Year-Old Successor to Cardinal Coutts in Karachi". National Catholic Register. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  5. "Rinunce e nomine, 13.06.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  6. "Bishops". Catholics in Pakistan. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  7. Chaudhry, Kamran (5 January 2017). "What will 2017 hold for Pakistani Catholics?". UCANews. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  8. "Pakistan Church wrestles with persecution, discrimination". The Herald Malaysia. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  9. Lamb, Christopher (28 October 2016). "Pope overhauls Cardinal Sarah's department". The Tablet. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  10. "Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Completes Term as ICEL Chairman" (PDF). USCCB Committee on Divine Worship Newsletter. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  11. Chaudhry, Kamran (17 June 2020). "Pakistan Catholics join race for top government positions". La Croix International. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  12. UCANews January 4, 2021
  13. "Resignations and Appointments, 11.02.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  14. Dawn April 12, 2021
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