Aizawl: The Catholic Church in Mizoram is expected to get morale boost when Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio spends six days in the Christian-dominated northeastern Indian state.
The nuncio, who is the ambassador of the Holy See, will spend November 5-6 in the Barak Valley region of the Aizawl diocese. He would celebrate Mass and lay the foundation of Apostolic School in Shrikona in Cachar district of Assam.
He will then head for Aizawl, capital of Mizoram, on October 7.
Bishop Stephen Rotluanga of Aizawl told reporters that the nuncio is scheduled to lead Mass at the Christ King Cathedral in Aizawl Kulikawn and a Eucharistic procession through the streets of the capital on Sunday. Catholics from various tribes will attend the procession in their traditional attire.
The same evening, Archbishop Pennacchio will meet with priests and other church leaders as part of encouraging Church life in the state, Bishop Rotluanga said.
Before leaving the state the following day, the nuncio would call on Governor Nirbhay Sharma and Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, Business-standard reported.
Aizawl diocese that spreads over a land area of 28,002 square kilometers covers the entire state of Mizoram and Cachar, Hailakandi and Kaimkanj districts in Assam.
Mizoram is among the three Christian-majority states in India. Nearly 87 percent of its more than 1.6 million people are Christian,
The Presbyterian Church with a membership of more than 600,000 is the largest Christian denomination in Mizoram, followed by Baptists.
Mizoram literally means the land of the hill people. It shares boundaries with the Indian states of Assam, Manipur and Tripura. It also shares a 722-kilometer border with the neighboring countries of Bangladesh and Myanmar.
About 95 percent of Mizoram population is made up of diverse tribes who came mostly from Southeast Asia starting with 16th century but mainly in 18th century.
Mizoram has the highest concentration of tribal people among all Indian states.
The tribes converted from Animist religions to Christianity from the first half of the 20th century, making Mizoram is one of three Christian-majority states in India.