Preaching the Gospel in India not an easy task

Pope Benedict XVI today told Bishops from India the Church in their country should continue bringing attention to the promotion of basic rights, and to affirm the dignity of each and every human person.

“In particular, the Catholic Church is the friend of the poor. Like Christ, she welcomes without exception all who approach her to hear the divine message of peace, hope and salvation,” he told the bishops, who are in Rome on their ad limina visit.

The Holy Father also spoke about spreading the Gospel in India.

“Even though you, dear brothers, must take into account the challenges that the missionary nature of the Church entails, you must always be prepared to spread the Kingdom of God and to walk in the footsteps of Christ, who was himself misunderstood, despised, falsely accused and who suffered for the sake of truth,” he said.

Bishop Francis Kalist of the diocese of Meerut told Vatican Radio after the meeting that he appreciated the Pope’s encouragement.

“Our Diocese is a missionary diocese…and the Catholic population is very [small], so our concentration is not only Catholics, but all,” he told Vatican Radio. “In my diocese there is an equal number of Muslims and Hindus, and so we cater to the needs of all of them. In that sense we are missionaries.”

He said the Church has faced opposition from fundamentalist groups, making direct proclamation of the Gospel difficult.

“The main mission we have taken up now is inter-religious dialogue, and also establishing small Christian communities,” he said. “Through small Christian communities we are educating the people in the Faith, so they will be able to share their faith with their neighbours.”

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