Archbishop Marampudi Joji of Hyderabad died yesterday following a massive heart attack, archdiocesan officials announced. The 68-year old prelate was found dead inside “his bed room during his siesta and the body was found on the floor of his room,” said a note signed by vicar general Father Swarna Bernard.
Doctors who attended on him “gave a last try to revive him but there was no response and he was declared dead,” the note said.
The archbishop has been ailing for some time. He had a bypass surgery of heart in 2001 and was on a pacemaker.
He also suffered from a cancerous bone and was hospitalized for 10 days in last June. Besides, he was also under medication for diabetes and hypertension.
The prelate was carrying on despite all the difficulties and has taken much interest in the social and religious rights of his people, a local priest said.
The late prelate, educated at the Lutheran Boarding School near Samalkot, was the third archbishop of Hyderabad.
He was ordained priest 1971 for the diocese of Vijayawada, his native diocese. He received Blessed Mother Teresa when she went to Vijayawada to initiate the work of the Missionaries of Charity there.
Archbishop Joji is known for administrative capabilities. He headed the Vijayawada diocesan Social Service Society before being made Bishop of Khammam.
He was ordained bishop of Khammam in 1991 and served there until 8 November 1996 when he was transferred to the diocese of Vijayawada. He took charge of Vijayawada diocese on 19 January 1997.
He was appointed Archbishop of Hyderabad on January 29, 2000. He was consecrated principally by Archbishop George Zur, the then nuncio in India, in the presence of his predecessor Archbishop Saminini Arulappa on April 30, 2000.
Archbishop Joji inaugurated the Hyderabad session of the scholarly Church History Association of India incorporating Church Historians of the Pentecostal, Protestant, Orthodox, and Catholic traditions.
SIC: CTHIND