New Delhi, India, Aug 25, 2017 / 14:57 pm
A group of bishops from across India met with the country's new president and vice-president on Thursday, 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 Aug. 24 that he appreciated, in particular, the work the Church does for the poor and downtrodden in the country.
He also said, as summarized 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.