Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Gandhinagar (Fides Service) - To pay tribute to the late Pope John Paul II, a religious leader dedicated to promoting peace in the world and dialogue among religions, Gujarat state - in the past in the news for Hindu extremist violence on Christians and Muslims - decided to plant 84 trees in memory of Pope Wojtyla. It is a local tradition to plant trees in memory of eminent personalities and according to the local Church in Gujarat this could be a sign that the state government intends to eliminate intolerance and discrimination against religious minorities.
Mr Chhavinath N. Pande, manager of the Indroda Geer Foundation Park explained that the 84 trees, will be one for every year of the Pope’s life. The local Church welcomed the news. Jesuit Fr . Hecto Pinto, head master of the St. Franceis Xavier school in the state capital Gandhinagar, put the school grounds at disposal for the initiative. On May 6 during a special ceremony some of the trees were planted in the school grounds by various personalities including Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes of Gandhinagar. “With this gesture we wish to honour and perpetuate the memory of Pope John Paul II and his essential contribution towards world peace, brotherhood, unity of nations and protection of the environment”, the park manager said adding that the rest of the trees will be planted in July at the beginning of the monsoon season.
Local Church sources told Fides that the gesture was not only of formal value it is also highly symbolic because it will help spread among the people to right approach the interreligious relations aimed at harmony as preached by John Paul II. The value of the ceremony is enhanced by the fact that Gujarat is ruled by the Baharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a party which in its electoral campaigns in the past propagated the fundamentalist Hindutva ideology contrary to cultural and religious pluralism. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 11/5/2005 righe 26 parole 264)
