Team Herald
PANJIM: Stating that Pope Francis is longing to visit India, Archbishop Goa and Daman Felipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao on Wednesday, requested Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai to urge the Government of India to invite Pope Francis to visit the country.
“I wish and pray that our Governor can play a significant role in ensuring that there is an official written invitation from our Union government to Holy Father (Pope Francis) to visit India. I think the visit of the Holy Father will gladden our hearts and I know that Pope Francis is longing to visit India so that all of us can have joy of having the visit of Pope Francis,” Cardinal Ferrao said, while speaking during a reception for Vatican delegates hosted by the Governor at Raj Bhavan.
The Cardinal stated that Goa has been known as a place of communal harmony. The church has contributed significantly in nation building particularly in the field of education, health care and social service. He said that the Governor besides being a prolific writer is a person committed to promote good relations with all communities.
In his address, Pillai mentioned that Raj Bhavan is the oldest Raj Bhavan in the country which is closely connected with Rome. “This is the first time that a nine-member delegation from Rome visited the State. This is the gift given to our country by the Holy Father,” he said.
Quoting the Vedic verse in Sanskrit, “May good thoughts come to us from all directions,” encapsulating the spirit of the gathering, the Governor said, "Pope Francis, through his delegation, sent significant spiritual gifts to him. These included a Franciscan Cross (a crucifix), a large portrait of Our Lady of Mother Mary, and two rosaries personally blessed by the Holy Father."
The Governor said, the event exemplified the enduring bond between India and the Vatican, celebrating unity, respect, and shared values. He stated that charity is the truth. “Serving the people means serving God. God will not forget the work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them,” the Governor added.
His Excellency Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the third highest-ranking official in the Holy Catholic Church; His Eminence Archbishop George Jacob Koovakad, Cardinal-elect and His Excellency Msgr. Rolandas Makrickas, Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major also expressed their gratitude.
Archbishop Parra said that in this moment of the world, it is “necessary to reinforce dialogue and invest in communication amongst us (communities).” The authorities and the Church must make efforts to talk to each other and that is the best way to bring the people and the country together, he said.
Referring to Cardinal-designate Archbishop Koovakad, Parra said, “We are happy that the Holy Father (Pope) has India in his heart. He has Asia in his heart. We know the future of the world and the future of the church pass through India, pass through Asia and these people.”
Talking about his visit to the Exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier, the Archbishop said he felt touched with the experience of how the government is working together with the church (to hold the event). Probably eight million people will be visiting the relics of St Francis Xavier this year. People are working very hard and together with the church, he said.
On the occasion, the Governor presented each guest with a Holy Cross and copies of the Bhagavad Gita, interpreted by luminaries like Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Chinmayananda, Annie Besant, etc. He also presented ceremonial lamps further symbolising the shared light of unity, illuminating the strong bond between India and the Vatican.
First Lady of Goa Rita Pillai and Most Reverend Simião Purificãcao Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of Goa also graced the occasion. Earlier, M R M Rao, IAS, Secretary to Governor welcomed the guests while, Joemon Job, OSD to the Governor conducted the programme and later, Mazzie D’Sa proposed a vote of thanks.