Christian churches in India intend to interact and collaborate to find solutions to critical national issues in the current scenario. At a recent ecumenical meeting, the significant contribution of churches in building the nation was recalled, and a commitment was expressed to “remove the misconception that Christianity is a foreign religion, as it has existed in India for nearly 2,000 years”. It was agreed.
The Jubilee 2025, which opens on December 24, will be celebrated in India with a strong ecumenical spirit: this is the estimate of Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman and President of the Episcopal Conference of Latin Rite Bishops (CCBI) in India, in a letter sent to 132 Latin-rite dioceses where more than 16 million Indian Catholics live.
The letter invites us, in the jubilee celebrations, to maintain an approach characterized by “ecumenical and inter-religious partnership” – since “the jubilee year coincides with the important ecumenical milestone of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea” – and welcomes the Pope’s invitation “to intensify our efforts for Christian unity and cooperation with other denominations, reflecting the inclusive nature of our hope in God”.
The same objective was reiterated at an ecumenical meeting held in Bangalore these days, attended by 40 Christian delegates, including bishops, moderators and pastors from about 20 churches of Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Evangelical confessions.
The aim of the meeting was to strengthen the ecumenical movement in India based on Jesus’ prayer “Let them all be one” (John 17:21). The gathering, which was attended by Bishop Andrews Thazhath, president of the interritual Catholic Episcopal Conference of Indian Bishops (CBCI) – a grouping of bishops of the Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankar rites -, decided to meet with greater frequency to promote communion and brotherhood among church leaders, initiating the creation of an ecumenical federation of churches in India. Also, the initiative to hold a special national ecumenical gathering in 2025 to commemorate the jubilee year of 2025 and the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed was approved.
Christian churches in India intend to engage in dialogue and collaboration to address critical national issues in the current scenario. The important contribution of churches in nation-building was recalled, agreeing to commit to “removing the misconception that Christianity is a foreign religion, as it has existed in India for nearly 2,000 years”.
The Assembly reiterated India’s willingness to work for the common good and called for protection of minority rights and security of minority communities.
*Fides Agency
