Indian bishops organize web prayer against pandemic

By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi, May 15, 2020: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has responded to Pope Francis’ call to all religions to pray, fast and to perform works of charity to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.

The conference’s Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism on May 14 held a web prayer meeting with members of other Christian denominations and religions, according to a press release from the CBCI headquarters in New Delhi.

The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity established in 2019 during the Holy Father’s visit to the United Arab Emirates called believers of all religions and different traditions to pray together on May 14 .

In his Regina Coeli address on May 3, Pope Francis highlighted the universality of prayer, and called everyone to pray, fast and to do works of charity, imploring God to save humanity from the pandemic.

CBCI president Cardinal Oswald Gracias welcomed and invited all the religious leaders to pray to God to bring an end to the pandemic and to take care of those affected by the virus, those who have passed away and for a vaccine to be found quickly.

The one hour online was also attended by Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop Syro Malabar Church, Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis, Major Archbishop Syro Malankara Church, CBCI secretary general Archbishop Felix Machado, Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, First Vice President of CBCI, Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, Bishop Raphy Manjaly of Allahabad, a member Bishop of CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism.

Archbishop Kuriakose Mor Theophilos of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Reverend Kasta Dip of the Evangelical Church, and Sumitra Krishna Das, Vaishnava Group too shared the prayers and messages on the occasion.

Father Jervis D’Souza, CBCI deputy secretary general, proposed the Vote of thanks while Archbishop Joseph Perumthottam of Changanacherry, chairman, CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism, thanked all the leaders who took part in the web prayer.