Church Roman Catholic Predecessor Armando Trindade In office 2001–2011 Ordination January 16, 1960 | Name Lawrence Saldanha Consecration September 11, 2001 Role Religious Leader Previous post Priest | |
See Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore Successor Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM Born 25 October 1936 (age 87)
Mangalore, India ( 1936-10-25 ) | ||
Lawrence John Saldanha (born 12 June 1936) was born in Mangalore, India. He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi and was ordained a priest in Lahore, Pakistan on 16 January 1960.
He also earned a doctorate in systematic theology from Rome-based Pontifical Urbaniana University. He participated in the Second Vatican Council.
He served in different parishes in Lahore. He served from 1971-74 as editor of the Catholic Naqib, the Archdiocese’s Urdu bimonthly. He was also rector of Christ the King Seminary in Karachi from 1974–1979 and taught dogmatic theology there until 1983.
From 1986-98 he was head of the social communications commission and WAVE Studio, the Church's national audiovisual center in Lahore. He also headed the UCA News bureau in Pakistan.
He was serving as associate pastor of Precious Blood Church in Toronto, Canada, when he was recalled to serve the Church in Pakistan. On 24 Apr 2001 he was appointed Archbishop of Lahore by Pope John Paul II. He took as his motto Heralds of Hope.
On 16 January 2010, Archbishop Saldanha celebrated his Golden Jubilee as a priest, of serving his church for 50 years.
On 7 April 2011 Archbishop Saldanha retired as Archbishop of Lahore.
Saldanha also served as the first executive secretary of Caritas Pakistan from 1966–73, chairman of Radio Veritas Asia, and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.