India’s Catholic bishops begin ‘ad limina’ visits

(March 21, 2011) The Catholic Bishops of India began their so-called ‘Ad Limina’ visit to Rome on Monday, a regulation visit which heads of dioceses are required to make every five years or so to report on the state of their jurisdictions. Kicking of the Indian bishops’ ‘ad limina’ visits were prelates from the Eastern rite Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, whose head, Major Archbishop Mar Baselios Cleemis of Trivandrum, Pope Benedict first met on Monday. Accompanying the Major Archbishop were his Auxiliary Bishop Samuel Irenios Kattukalli and curial bishop Thomas Anthonios Valiyavilayil. Then followed Archbishop Thomas Koorilos Chakkalapadickal of Tiruvalla and his Auxiliary Bishop Philipos Stephanos Thottathil. ‘Ad limina’is the short for the Latin expression, ‘ad limina Apostolorum’, meaning a visit “to the threshold of the Apostles" Sts. Peter and Paul, who are buried in the Eternal City. The object of the visit is above all to show the proper reverence for the Successor of St. Peter, to acknowledge practically his universal jurisdiction by giving an account of the condition of particular churches, to receive his admonitions and counsels, and thus bind more closely the members of the Church to the Successor of Peter. The Indian bishops visits to Rome will continue until September 19, with a gap in July and August.