Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bombay (Agenzia Fides) – The memory, 25 years ago, of the Visit by Pope John Paul II to India was “for Christians and for the entire population, a strong call to respect human dignity and the role of religion in one's life, also in the public arena.” This was stated to Fides by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and President of the Bishops' Conference of India, taking stock of the Jubilee celebrations, held from 1 to 11 February, to commemorate the Visit of John Paul II to India in 1986. For this occasion, the Special Envoy of the Pope, Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, presided over a series of events and celebrations (see Fides 31/1/2011) in five cities (Dalhi, Ranchi, Calcutta, Bombay, Cohcin).
“We remembered the figure and the teaching of Pope Wojtyla, very important for the India of today. We recorded the great devotion and amazing welcome in all cities. There was great turnout by youth and strong attention to interreligious dialogue and charity,” the Cardinal told Fides.
John Paul II, like Mother Teresa, is also a popular figure for the Hindu community: “his message recalled the urgency to protect personal integrity, and the commitment to charity and love towards all, especially the poor,” remarked Cardinal Gracias. This is “an evangelical response to those who promote violence or want to feed social and interreligious tensions, such as the Hindu fundamentalist groups.” “As the Church in India,” the Cardinal continued, retracing the words of the Pope 25 years ago – collected in a book published for the occasion – “we confirmed that Christ is the answer to the deepest anxieties of the human heart, and we received new impetus to evangelise.”
The Cardinal, finally, told Fides that he will attend the beatification ceremony for John Paul II, on 1 May at St Peter's, adding a hope: “That the Church and all the people in India would be only too happy to welcome Pope Benedict XVI in India .” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/2/2011)
