Three Lay Catholics from Bombay Archdiocese Receive Papal Honours

Bombay, Feb 2, 2026: Three distinguished Catholic lay professionals of the Archdiocese of Bombay received papal honours on January 29 in recognition of their dedicated service and outstanding contributions in their respective professions.

Dr. Armida Fernandez

Dr. Armida Fernandez, a renowned neonatologist, was conferred the title of Lady of the Order of Pope St. Sylvester, one of the five Orders of Knighthood conferred directly by the Pope, recognising Catholic laywomen for distinguished service to the Church.

The founder of Asia’s first human milk bank at Sion Hospital in 1989, Dr. Fernandez revolutionised newborn care in India. Her pioneering work at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General (LTMG) Hospital—where she served as Professor and Head of Neonatology and later as Dean—focused on improving survival rates for premature infants through the promotion of breastfeeding.

The medal was presented on behalf of the Vatican by Oswald Cardinal Gracias, who praised Dr. Fernandez’s unwavering commitment to the most vulnerable as a true expression of Christian compassion.

Dr. Fernandez is also a recipient of the Padma Shri Award conferred by the Government of India, recognising her lifelong contribution to maternal, child, and paediatric health, particularly in poor urban communities.

Mr. Roger C.B. Pereira

Mr. Roger C.B. Pereira, a pioneer in Indian advertising and public relations with more than five decades of influence, received the title of Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great. The honour is bestowed upon Catholic men and women in recognition of their personal service to the Holy See and the Church through their exceptional labours, support of the Holy See, and exemplary witness in society.

A key architect of the advertising industry in India, Mr. Pereira co-founded the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and the India chapter of the International Advertising Association, and has presided over major advertising bodies.

Deeply engaged in Church-related initiatives, he serves as a trustee of Take Charge, a mentorship programme that promotes excellence among Catholic youth and has formed over 820 mentor–mentee pairs.

Cardinal Gracias conferred the medal, commending Mr. Pereira for integrating professional innovation with faith-driven service and holding him up as a model for future generations.

Dr. Luzito De Souza

Dr. Luzito De Souza, a distinguished surgical oncologist with over a decade of experience, was also conferred the title of Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great.

Associated with St. Elizabeth Hospital, Dr. De Souza is recognised for introducing palliative care to India through the founding of Shanti Avedna Sadan centres in Mumbai, Goa, and Delhi. These centres provide dignified end-of-life care to terminally ill cancer patients and reflect his commitment to compassionate and holistic healing.

Presenting the honour, Cardinal Gracias highlighted Dr. De Souza’s life of dedicated service to those facing terminal illness as an inspiring example of faith-rooted care and commitment.

By Fr. Santhosh Digal