India’s president praises Church for assistance to the poor

Aug 31, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus
A group of bishops from across India met with the country’s new president and vice-president on Aug 24, with both leaders voicing their support of the Church’s work in spiritual development and assistance to the poor.

President Ram Nath Kovind, elected at the end of July, told the bishops that he appreciated, in particular, the work the Church does for the poor and downtrodden in the country.

He also said, as summarised in a statement from the Bishops’ Conference, that while the whole world speaks of development, spirituality is also an important aspect of development, urging the bishops to continue to promote it.

Led by Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, Syro-Malankara Major Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Trivandrum and president of the Indian Bishops’ Conference, the bishops also included Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi and Archbishop Filipe Neri do Rosario Ferrao of Goa and Daman. --CNA