Indian Church pays tribute to Pope on his 7^th anniversary

(April 20, 2012) The president of the Catholic bishops of India paid tribute to Pope Benedict XVI on the 7^th anniversary of his pontificate on Thursday, saying he has truly maintained the Catholic Church’s tradition while responding to the needs of the times. To mark the occasion, Apostolic Nuncio to India, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, presided over a solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Apostolic Nunciature in New Delhi, along with Card. Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI). In his homily at Mass, Cardinal Gracias expressed the joys and gratitude of India’s 18 million Catholics to Pope Benedict on the anniversary of his pontificate as well as his 85^th birthday celebrated earlier on Monday. “Our Pope Benedict XVI is truly in every way the Vicar of Christ, and central to his papacy is continuity and change. Continuity both from our beloved John Paul II, and also means the Church must remain in living touch with tradition. Change signifies adaptation in response to new needs,” Cardinal Gracias said. He particularly drew attention to the Pope’s efforts in making Christ the centre of Christian living in a secularized world, pledging the Indian Church’s commitment to the task of new evangelization. In this regard Cardinal Gracias particularly recalled Pope Benedict’s initiative of the Year of Faith, starting on Oct. 11. He said the Indian Church is committed to the people of India to strive and defend religious freedom in the multi-cultural and multi- religious society, while defending human dignity and participating in nation building through its education, health and welfare ministries, with a special preference for the poorest and the marginalized.