India keen on Pope’s visit and Bl Teresa’s canonization in 2016

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 27, 2015: The Indian government is keen to invite Pope Francis to India in connection with possible canonization of Mother Teresa next year, said a report in the media widely circulated.

The government and the Catholic Church on behalf of the Missionaries of Charity (MC), founded by Mother Teresa, had been at loggerheads over the new adoption laws being enforced by the Centre to enable single parents to adopt.

The MC, with the full-fledged support of the Catholic Church, had been opposing it saying that the rules laid down by the Mother does not allow them to let single parents adopt children and they stopped adoptions centres.

But the confrontational mood between the Church and the government has changed to a conciliatory one following the Vatican’s decision to hasten the canonisation of Mother Teresa as a saint, the report said.

Canonisation is a big event for Catholics the world over and is keenly watched by the international community for its religious and political messages. The religious ceremony would be led by the Pope himself and the international media’s presence is ensured. The Pope is expected to convene a council of cardinals in February to announce the date and venue of the canonisation of the Blessed Teresa.

“The Pope, especially the current Pope, brings the whole world’s attention with him. If the Pope agrees to come to India, it will be a good opportunity for the government to send out positive signals to the world,” said a government official, who is acting as an interlocutor between the Centre and the Church for quite some time.

Pope Francis is the most popular Pope in recent years who has caught the imagination of both Catholics and the rest of the world. His views are quite in tune with the times, whether it is on divorce or live-in relationships. Equally important are his views on conversion.

He has famously questioned the whole issue of proselytism by saying: “Do you need to convince the other to become Catholic? No, no, no! Go out and meet him, he is your brother. This is enough…’’

The official said the chances of Pope visiting India depend on many issues, including the political and religious climate in the country and also the joint efforts on the part of government and the Church.

The report said the Church, on its part, is desperate to have the Pope come to India as it is in need of a morale booster. While it is not getting a free hand as was the case during the UPA rule, ever since the BJP has come to power, it is also fraught with internal tussles.

“It is not for nothing that the Church leaders in India have requested the Pope last week to fast-track the remaining canonization proceedings,” said a Church source.

Catholic apex body members Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos and Cardinal Oswald Gracias have already requested the Pope to visit India. John Paul-II was the last one to visit India, in 1986. The previous government was keen that  Pope Francis visit but the time was short.