India’s Catholic bishops begin general body meeting
(Feb. 01, 2012) Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay on Wednesday
called the Church “the conscience of the nation” during his presidential speech at
the opening of the 30th general body meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
India, CBCI. The week-long meeting that concludes on Feb 8, is taking place in
Bangalore, Karnataka State. During his speech, Cardinal Gracias called for the Church
as a whole to meditate on what it has done for good, and where it has failed. Noting
that the CBCI is committed to the welfare of the nation and its people, Cardinal Gracias
said “we will dedicate all our energies towards that goal.” He said the growing gap
between the rich and poor was one of the biggest challenges facing the nation, and
regretted that the opportunities offered in the country were limited to the rich and
the prosperous. Cardinal Gracias expressed the hope that the biennial meeting, which
had as its theme “The church’s role for a better India,” will generate enthusiasm
and hope among the Christian community. A record 170 bishops and church leaders from
different dioceses of the country are attending the February 1-8 meeting in Bangalore,
called the Vatican of the East. The proceedings began with Mass of the Holy Spirit
led by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio. He urged the Christian community
in the country to work with “single-heartedness” and without expecting honour or profit
for a better future for all. In his keynote address, Cardinal Peter Turkson, president
of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, called the Christian leaders
to be “trustworthy in the household of God and to themselves.” He reminded the leaders
that God has entrusted the people into their hands and it was the responsibility of
the leaders not to abuse that trust. Archbishop Albert D’Souza, secretary general
of the CBCI, presented the bishops’ report for the year 2010-2011 during the inaugural
meeting. The CBCI is an umbrella organization of all the Catholic bishops of
India, belonging to the Latin, the Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankara Rites.