Nuncio exhorts Indian Church to use adversity to strengthen faith

(February 13, 2008) The apostolic nuncio to India has exhorted the Indian Church not to be discouraged by persecution but rather to strengthen its faith through such adversity. “Use the growing persecutions and violence against the Church in India as a positive call for strengthening faith at all levels,” said Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana on Thursday at the inauguration of the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in India, CCBI, the organization of the Latin-rite bishops of India. About 120 bishops and six lay leaders are attending the meeting in the southern Indian city of Mysore. The theme of the Feb. 12-18 assembly is, “Word of God in the Life and Ministry of the Church.” Archbishop Lopez Quintana acknowledged the Indian Church is being tested by a period of suffering, persecution and confusion, but he urged the bishops to personify the word of God through powerful personal witness. The nuncio said the Gospel, the source of Christian life, should inspire Christians to live in hope amid trials and persecution. India’s Catholic Church comprises three rites – the Latin and two eastern rites, namely the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara churches. 128 of India’s 160 dioceses are headed by Latin-rite bishops. The other dioceses belong to the Oriental-rite Churches. Bishops of all the three rites form the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, CBCI, the apex body of the Catholic Church in India.