Ranchi (Fides) - All is ready for the assembly of the Catholic Bishops of Latin Rite 4 to 8 March in Ranchi, Jharkhand, north east India. Some 120 Bishops of Latin will take part. In India there are also Catholic Bishops of Syro-Malankar Rite and Syro-Malabar Rite and together with the Latin rite Bishops they form the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.
This is the first time the Assembly is held in the diocese of Ranchi guided by Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, President of the Bishops’ conference. Most people in this area are Tribals and many are Catholics. The assembly is being held here to demonstrate the local Church’s attention for the poor and to bear witness to Jesus Christ who teaches that the poor and the outcast are the most important.
The theme of the assembly is “Family: Good News for India” and in fact the Bishops will discuss family pastoral and the challenges of mobility, poverty and moral and cultural relativism with which the family today is threatened.
The Papal Nuncio to India Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana will attend the Bishops’ assembly and he will also preside the opening Mass in Ranchi cathedral on March 4. The Bishops will also have a meeting with the state civil authorities and an open air mass for which at least 20,000 people are expected to gather.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/02/2005 Righe: 22 Parole: 289)