The body of Archbishop Ambrose Madtha, papal envoy to Ivory Coast, who
died in a road accident on Dec. 8, is expected to arrive in India on
Friday.“The formalities in Ivory Coast are not yet over. We are waiting for the body,” said Father James D’souza of the Holy Redeemer Church in Belthangady under Mangalore diocese, where the memorial service for the deceased would be held.
The priest said that the funeral of the archbishop would be held the same day the body arrives.
Archbishop Madtha died on the spot when he was traveling back from the northwestern town of Odienne to an ordination ceremony in the country's west on Dec. 8 when his car collided with another vehicle.
“He was a man who loved simplicity in life and was well informed,” said Fr. D’souza
The archbishop, who completed his school education in Belthangady, was ordained a priest in 1982.
He was appointed the papal envoy in 1990.
He has worked in Ghana, Africa, Argentina, El Salvador, Albania, South America and Taiwan.