By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, June 10, 2020: Archbishop Emeritus Vincent Michael Concessao of Delhi has been hospitalized with suspected coronavirus infection.
The 83-year-old prelate was admitted in Delhi’s Holy Family Hospital on June 9 after he complained of breathlessness and fever, sources in the archdiocese told Matters India. The sources denied the prelate has contracted the coronavirus.
However, a prayer request for the genial archbishop’s speedy recovery has been circulated in social media platforms.
If proven positive, Archbishop Concessao would become the first Catholic prelate in India to get infected with coronavirus.
Archbishop Concessao had earlier visited the Holy Family Hospital in Okhla, south Delhi, for medical tests. The 345-bed hospital was founded by the Medical Mission Sisters in 1953. The Delhi Archdiocese took over its management in 1990.
Archbishop Concessao took over as the fifth archbishop of Delhi on November 19, 2000, after the untimely death of Archbishop Alan de Lastic. He retired on November 30, 2012.
Among the Church people in Delhi, a member of the Sisters of the Destitute had earlier contracted the virus, but recovered after treatment.
Meanwhile Delhi has reported the third highest number of coronavirus positive cases in India after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. As on December 10, the national capital recorded 32,810 positive cases and 984 deaths.
At the same time, India became the fifth worst-hit nation by the Covid-19 pandemic in the world after the United States, Brazil, Russia and the UK. The nationwide Covid-19 tally was 286,031 at the end of June 10 with almost one-third of the total cases getting detected in just 10 days of June.
On the positive side, the number of recovered patients has exceeded the count of active cases for the first time.
India’s first Covid-19 case was detected on January 30, and it took more than 100 days t to reach the 100,000 mark on May 18. However, the next 100,000 cases were added in just about a fortnight. The tally could hit the 300,000-mark by mid-June at the current rate.
We are with you Archbishop Vincent.May the Lord heal you and grant you a speedy recovery.
Rev Archbishop very sad to here we are praying for you trust in living God 🙏
You will come back Home we need you
No word to say
We assure you our prayers for your speedy recovery 🙏
I still carry ‘fond and pleasant memories’ of my association with Archbishop Vincent. During 1980-1983 I stayed at Pratiksha (Delhi) where he was the Rector. The present Archbishop Anil also was there during that period. Archbishop Anil had predicted, “Fr. Vincent, you will become the Archbishop of Delhi one day.” Archbishop Anil’s prediction came true.
I am sad to know that he is ill and “seems to have the Covid-19 symptoms”. He is a man of strong will-power. With the prayers of millions he will overcome this health crisis. I wish him speedy recovery.
Humble prayers for Abp Vincent