By Verghese V Joseph –
Encouraging a group of Indian bishops to continue their work with courage and enthusiasm, Pope Francis on Tuesday said he was aware of challenges confronting the Church in India.
The Holy Father was interacting with the Karnataka delegation led by Bengaluru Archbishop Most Rev Dr Peter Machado as part of their their Ad Limina visit. The Karnataka delegation comprised Bishop T Anthony Swamy of Chikmagalur, Bishop K A William of Mysore, Bishop Henry D’Souza of Bellary, Bishop Derek Fernandes of Belgaum, Bishop Peter Paul D’Saldanha of Mangalore, Bishop Francis Serrao of Shimoga, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi and Bishop Robert Michael Miranda of Gulbarga.
Pope Francis listened to the bishops, encouraged them to continue their work with courage and enthusiasm, while asking the bishops to be close to Jesus, to their priests and to their people.
The Holy Father told the Bishops that he was aware of the challenges the Church in India was facing and encouraged them to continue working for God with faith and patience. When informed that a nun and other innocent priests and religious have been in jail, Pope Francis assured them of his prayers.
Dr Peter Machado, who is also the President of Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council (KRCBC), Bishops of Karnataka, conveyed to the Holy Father their filial love, respect and obedience, and requested him to impart his apostolic blessings upon all of them and on the people Karnataka. At the same time all Bishop’s prayed for Karnataka at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul and at the other Basilicas in Rome.
Last week, one group of 38 bishops, which included two Goan bishops, Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi Theodore Mascarenhas and Bishop Alex Dias, met Pope Francis as part of their ‘Ad Limina Apostolorum’ visit in Rome. Bishop Mascarenhas, Bishop Dias and 36 other bishops had a 90-minute meeting with the Holy Father.
Some 200 bishops from India, in three separate groups, are conducting their respective Ad Limina visits between September 13 and October 3.
Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao along with 44 other bishops from India who undertakook the ‘Ad Limina’ visit between September 18 to 27. Other bishops of Goan origin in the group include Cardinal Oswald Gracias and three of his Auxiliary Bishops John Rodrigues, Barthol Barretto and Savio Fernandes, Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi, Bishop Agnelo Gracias, Apostolic Administrator of Jullundur and Bishops Lumen Monteiro of Agartala and Allwyn Barreto of Sindhudurg.
Bishops all over the world undertake the obligatory Ad Limina visit to the Vatican at regular intervals. Such visits include a visit to the tombs of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, and a meeting with the Pope to report on the state of their dioceses. It is separate from other trips a bishop might make to the Vatican, such as to attend a synod.
The object of the visit is not merely to make a pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles, but, above all, to show the proper reverence for the successor of St Peter, to acknowledge practically his universal jurisdiction by giving an account of the condition of particular churches, to receive his admonitions and counsels, and thus bind more closely the members of the church to its divinely appointed head.
Last week, from Goa, Archbishop-Patriarch Filipe Neri Ferrao met Pope Francis as part of his Ad Limina Apostolorum visit in Rome between September 18-27. Other bishops of Goan origin in the group include Cardinal Oswald Gracias and three of his Auxiliary Bishops John Rodrigues, Barthol Barretto and Savio Fernandes, Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi, Bishop Agnelo Gracias, Apostolic Administrator of Jullundur and Bishops Lumen Monteiro of Agartala and Allwyn Barreto of Sindhudurg.
With inputs from Goan Network