MUMBAI, India : Cardinal Oswald Gracias has reassured Indians that the Catholic Church is not like a political party that seeks to increase its numbers to wield greater power. Rather, its task is to serve society.

The Church "does not seek power and prestige," the cardinal-archbishop of Bombay said on Oct. 18 in his homily during the concluding Mass of the first Indian Mission Congress. "She does not seek an increase in numbers just for greater influence," he stressed.

Some 1,500 delegates from the country's 160 dioceses attended the five-day congress titled Prabhu Yesu Mahotsav (Lord Jesus grand festival) in Mumbai, formerly called Bombay.

Apart from Catholics, hundreds of people from various Christian denominations and some Hindus were among those present at the Mass, a public affair open to media. The Church leader's remarks were reported on the Internet, and several videos of the proceedings can be seen on YouTube.

Cardinal Gracias, president of the congress's organizing committee and First Vice President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, acknowledged that some Indians fear the Church aims to convert people to Christianity.

Some states in India want laws to stop "forced" conversions, he pointed out. "Our answer to them is that there is no need for your anti-conversion laws. The Catholic Church does not believe in forced conversions."

The prelate added that any "forced" conversion would be "meaningless, because conversion is a transformation of heart -- a turning to God, for us Christians a turning to Jesus Christ."

The Church official urged Hindus not to feel threatened by the Church or its activities. The Catholic Church, he explained, wants to make the world a better place as directed by Christ. "We tell you that we serve because we were told to do so by Jesus, who was sent by God to bring love, peace and harmony into the world."

Describing the anti-Christian violence in 2008 in the eastern Indian state of Orissa as "a bad dream," the cardinal commended the victims for forgiving their offenders, as Christ taught.

The entire Church supports the Christians in Orissa and feels edified by stories of their heroic martyrdom, he continued. "The Church of India is with you," he told the delegates from Orissa.

Cardinal Gracias urged the Orissa government and other states where Christians have faced violence not to forget their constitutional duty to protect all minorities.

Father Joaquim Fernandes, media convener for the congress, said the delegates joined Hindus to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, on Oct. 17.

That evening, the delegates "lit their candles from one big lamp, and the entire venue was filled beautifully with little lights," he shared.

Courtesy : UCAN