Indian Cardinal Gracias to attend John Paul II’s beatification
(February 15, 2011) Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, will attend the beatification ceremony of Pope John Paul II, on May 1st at Rome’s St Peter's Basilica. The Cardinal confirmed his participation to Fides Catholic News agency, while summing up the jubilee celebrations held from 1 to 11 February to commemorate the visit of Pope John Paul II to India in 1986. Cardinal Gracias said “The memory, 25 years ago, of the visit by Pope John Paul II to India was for Christians and for the entire population, a strong call to respect human dignity and the role of religion in one's life, also in the public arena.”
The prelate said the Special Envoy of the Pope, Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, presided over a series of events and celebrations in five cities namely Delhi, Ranchi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Cochin. On this occasion “We remembered the figure and the teaching of Pope John Paul II, very important for the India of today. There was great devotion and amazing welcome in all cities. There was great turnout by youth and strong attention to interreligious dialogue and charity,” the Cardinal told Fides. “ Pope John Paul II, like Mother Teresa, is also a popular figure for the Hindu community. His message recalled the urgency to protect personal integrity, and the commitment to charity and love towards all, especially the poor,” remarked Cardinal Gracias.
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