Pope urges Indian Latin bishops to build unity and heal divisions

Leo tells CCBI assembly Church must be living sign of Christian love that breaks down barriers, unites strangers and reconciles enemies in India’s diverse and challenging context.

BENGALURU, Karnataka (Indian Catholic News) — Pope Leo XIV has called on Indian Latin rite bishops to break down barriers, bring people closer, unite strangers and reconcile enemies, urging them to make the Church a living sign of Christian love that draws people together and heals divisions.

In a special message to the 37th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), the pope said the Latin Church in India is called to promote unity and human fraternity and to inspire the faithful to live the Gospel of peace in daily life.

He told the bishops gathered Feb. 3-10 at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru that such Christian love “breaks down barriers, brings people closer, unites strangers and reconciles enemies.”

The pope, according to a CCBI press release also entrusted the assembly to Mary, Mother of the Church, and imparted his Apostolic Blessing to the bishops “as a sign of wisdom, strength and communion in the Lord.”

Call to be a living sign

The papal message emphasised the Church’s witness in a diverse and often divided social context, reminding the bishops that their leadership should visibly reflect the reconciling power of the Gospel.

Pope Leo urged them to ensure that their pastoral priorities strengthen unity within the Church and contribute to peace and fraternity in wider society, according to the message released to the assembly.

In a separate message, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, reminded the bishops of their responsibility toward future generations.

He urged them to respond to the needs of young people, the challenges of evangelisation and the values that sustain Christian witness in India’s complex interreligious context.

Cardinal Tagle noted that the bishops’ deliberations and resolutions would have a wide impact, not only on the local Churches they shepherd, but also on priests, religious and lay faithful who look up to them for guidance.

Assembly opens with liturgy and deliberations

The 37th Plenary Assembly opened with a solemn Eucharistic celebration. Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, presided over the celebration.

The inaugural meeting that followed began with a prayer to the Holy Spirit and the chanting of the traditional hymn Veni Creator Spiritus. Dignitaries then lit the traditional Indian lamp, symbolising the beginning of the Assembly.

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão of Goa, president of the CCBI, presided over the meeting, which was inaugurated by Archbishop Girelli.

Archbishop Peter Machado, Vice President of the CCBI and Archbishop of Bangalore, welcomed the gathering. The annual report of the CCBI was presented by Archbishop Vincent Aind of Ranchi and Secretary General of the CCBI.

Father Stephen Alathara, CCBI Deputy Secretary General, proposed the vote of thanks. The inaugural session concluded with a prayer led by Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad.*

During the Assembly, 18 newly appointed bishops in the last 12 months were formally welcomed as members. A moment of silence was also observed in memory of the departed members of the Conference.

The one-day meeting addressed several matters affecting the Latin Catholic Church in India, which comprises 132 dioceses and 215 bishops.

Through its 16 commissions, seven departments and four apostolates, the CCBI animates the life and mission of the Church in India. Its General Secretariat is based in New Delhi, with a Documentation Centre in Bangalore and regional secretariats in Goa and Bhopal.

As the Canonical National Episcopal Conference, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India stands as the largest in Asia and the third largest in the world.

* Cardinal Anthony Poola was elected as the new President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Feb. 7 during its 37th General Body Meeting.