Catholic and Protestant leaders in India have called for urgent unity, warning that growing communal violence against Christians requires a strong and collective response.
About 25 archbishops, bishops, church heads, and delegates from various denominations gathered for the Third National Ecumenical Bishops’ Fellowship Meeting at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Centre in New Delhi.
The fellowship, facilitated by the CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism, focused on strengthening ecumenical cooperation and reviewing the Draft Guidelines of the National Federation of Churches in India (NFCI).
CBCI President Archbishop Andrews Thazhath stressed the urgency of unity and cooperation, warning that amid increasing attacks on Christians by communal forces, it is vital to project a united Christian face and a single voice.
The meeting centered on the draft guidelines, which aimed to strengthen cooperation among Christian denominations. Participants welcomed the draft as “comprehensive and appropriate,” while also suggesting refinements.
Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, chair of the CBCI Office for Dialogue, presented the document, and Bishop Gerald Mathias of Lucknow led the opening prayer for Christian unity.
The gathering ended with prayer and benediction by Rev. Fr. Daniel Thomas, Vicar General of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Delhi.
Delegates later joined Prabhu Jesu Mahotsav, part of the Jubilee 2025 celebrations marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
