New Delhi: India’s three Catholic rites have to work together to bring Christ’s message love to all people in the country, asserts Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.

The prelate, a member of the Pilar society, made this remark at the concluding session of the silver jubilee of the Bible convention of the Syro-Malabar Church on October 15 at Tyagraja Sports Complex in New Delhi. The Faridabad Syro-Malabar diocese organized the convention.

Outgoing Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Cardinal George Alencherry, Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas of Gurgaon, Bishop Ephrem Narikulam of Chandra and Supreme Court Judge Justice Kurian Joseph also addressed the gathering.

Bishop Mascarenhas urged India’s three rites of Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malabar to eschew divisive tendencies and rivalry and unitedly bring the Gospel message to every corner of India.

The need for cooperation and unity among the three rites was also highlighted by Bishop Barnabas, a Syro-Malankara prelate. He said there are still many districts in India where people have not heard of Christ and his message.

The speakers used the occasion to bid farewell to the nuncio, who is leaving for Poland, end of October. Many said Archbishop Pennacchio endeared himself to all sections of Indian society with his simplicity, affability and approachability.

“He is one of the most popular nuncios India has seen,” said Cardinal Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Church. The cardinal noted that the Vatican ambassador has tremendously helped the growth Eastern Churches of Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malabar.

The Faridabad and Gurgaon dioceses were created for Oriental Catholics of the National Capital Region during Archbishop Pennacchio’s tenure.

Cardinal Alencherry, who also addressed the program, commended his Church’s Delhi mission for holding the Bible convention in the national capital for the past 25 years.

The cardinal, who came to New Delhi especially to attend the concluding program, said Mother Teresa’s works of mercy have made the Church in India proud internationally.

The Syro-Malabar leader also confirmed that Pope Francis would visit India in 2017. He, however, quoted media reports as his source.

Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad said the Delhi mission has made tremendous progress during the past 25 years.