Pope Leo XIV has called on the Latin Catholic bishops of India to promote unity and human fraternity, urging them to inspire the faithful to live the Gospel of peace in everyday life.
The Pope made the appeal in a message to bishops attending the 37th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, held Feb. 3 at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences in Bangalore.
In his message, Pope Leo said the Latin Church in India is called to remain a living sign of Christian love, a love that “breaks down barriers, brings people closer, unites strangers and reconciles enemies.”
Entrusting the Assembly to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, the Pope imparted his Apostolic Blessing to the bishops as “a sign of wisdom, strength and communion in the Lord.”
In a separate message, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, reminded the bishops of their responsibility toward future generations.
He urged them to respond to the needs of young people, the challenges of evangelisation, and the values that sustain Christian witness in India’s complex interreligious context.
Cardinal Tagle said the bishops’ deliberations and resolutions would have a broad impact, not only on the local Churches they shepherd, but also on priests, religious, and lay faithful who look to them for guidance.
The Plenary Assembly opened with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal. The inaugural session that followed included prayers to the Holy Spirit and the lighting of a traditional Indian lamp marking the start of the gathering.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, president of the CCBI and Archbishop of Goa and Daman, presided over the meeting. Archbishop Peter Machado, vice president of the CCBI and Archbishop of Bangalore, welcomed the participants.
The Conference’s annual report was presented by Archbishop Vincent Aind, secretary general of the CCBI and Archbishop of Ranchi. Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, deputy secretary general, delivered the vote of thanks. The session concluded with a prayer led by Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad.
Eighteen bishops appointed in the past year were formally welcomed during the Assembly, which also observed a moment of silence for deceased members of the Conference.
The one-day meeting addressed issues affecting the Latin Catholic Church in India, which includes 132 dioceses and 215 bishops. The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India is the largest episcopal body in Asia and the third largest in the world.
