Bangalore: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) began its 32nd plenary with its leader stressing the need to spread Christ’s compassion in the country.
The March 2-9 assembly will hold intense deliberations on the nation’s current socio-political situation, Indian family, challenges faced by the religious, role of the laity and the Church’s attitudes and responses to the poor and downtrodden in the country, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis told the inaugural meeting.
Some 180 bishops, priests, nuns and lay leaders are attending the 8-day assembly at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, southern India.
The opening ceremonies on March 2 included a solemn Mass led by Apostolic Nuncio to India Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio and an inaugural meeting.
Cardinal Cleemis, who is the CBCI president, urged the prelates to uphold the sacredness of the family.
The prelate, who heads more than 19 million Catholics in India, described consecrated life as a gift from God to the Church. Such a life, he added, helps the Church continue its mission in the country efficiently.
The prelate also noted that Pope Francis’s leadership has been inspiring the global Church.
As part of the formal opening of the assembly, the CBCI office bearers lighted a lamp kept on the dais.
“The response of the Church in India to the present day challenges” is the theme of the assembly where Christian, Hindu and Muslim scholars will present papers for discussions in the coming days.
Archbishop Salvatore also delivered the homily at the opening Mass.
A message from Pope Francis was read out during the Mass.
Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, who was the chief guest at the inaugural meeting, described Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol of social transformation and a gift to the world.
In his biennial report, CBCI secretary general Archbishop Albert D’Souza noted that in the last two years the Indian Catholic Church “has seen much growth and stability” and has extended “support to the Universal Church.”
“The inspirational and confidence building role of the CBCI continues in the midst of many challenges,” the report said adding that “the motto ‘United in Witness’ does help us to keep our goals of proclamation and evangelization.”
Referring to the issues and events in the country and the responses of the Church, the report stated that the government “under the influence of the fundamental ideology has weakened the secular fabric of the society.”
The report also regretted that “the narrow understanding nationalism is another treat to our democracy.”
The chain of attacks on churches, especially the desecration of the churches in Delhi and vandalizing of them in Nadia and Agra also figured in the report.
According to the report, the declaration of the “Jubilee year of Mercy” by Pope Francis is a powerful source for renewal of the Church. It has great influence on the Indian Church, it added.
The general secretary spoke of plans to make CBCI “more visible, strong, and effectively operational as an identity of the single face of the Church.”
The CBCI is also likely to have a full-time general secretary to be based at the CBCI Centre in Delhi.
The assembly will hear reports of activities from the offices and national centers of the CBCI before March 9.
CBCI vice-president Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa read out greetings to the assembly from Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and two officials from the Vatican.