By Matters India Reporter
Bhubaneswar, Jan 30, 2025: More than 200 Catholic bishops gathered at Bhubaneswar, capital of the eastern Indian state of Odisha, on January 30 observed Martyrs’ Day that commemorates the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.
They gathered around the Gandhi statue on the campus of Xavier Institute of Management University in Bhubaneswar, where the 36th plenary assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India is now underway.
Mahatma Gandhi, who led India’s independence struggle, was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse, a militant Hindu nationalist from Pune, western India, by firing three bullets into his chest at an interfaith prayer meeting in New Delhi.
India observes the Martyrs’ Day, or Shaheed Diwas to honour recognized martyrs of the nation.
On this day, the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister, the Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Chiefs gather at Raj Ghat, the Gandhi memorial, and lay wreaths.
In Bhubaneswar, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, and Cardinal Filip Neri Ferrão, president of the conference, together garlanded the statue, paying homage to India’s Father of the Nation.
The assembly observed a moment of silence, offering prayers for global peace and national unity.
The plenary assembly began on January 26 and on the third day the bishops spent time in spiritual discernment, reflecting on the ten pastoral priorities proposed by the laity, priests and religious communities across India.
Cardinal Anthony Poola, archbishop of Hyderabad, led the day’s Mass. In his homily, the cardinal emphasized the need for collective efforts in fulfilling the Church’s mission. He encouraged the faithful to walk together in unity, guided by faith in Christ and the light of the Holy Spirit.
Cardinal Poola underscored that the theme of the plenary assembly “Discerning Synodal Pathways for Mission’ calls for humility, attentive listening, and collaborative action within the Church.