Card.Dias bids diocese farewell: may India's spirit flourish, not only economy
Before 4,000 people of different faiths, the new prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, urged society and politicians to "strengthen moral values" against "ethnic chauvinism, the caste system and corruption". India activists recalled his work in Mumbai archdiocese: a man of prayer and a light on the path of inter-faith dialogue.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) Cardinal Ivan Dias, archbishop of Mumbai and new prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, has bid his diocese farewell before leaving for Rome. During a speech delivered in the Jesuit grounds of St Peter in Bandra, he urged believers to ensure India grew not only as an economic power but above all in spiritual and moral values. Meanwhile, participants of the event praised him for his considerable commitment to inter-faith dialogue in the country.
Addressing around 4,000 people from different faiths gathered in the Jesuit College of St Peter for the event, the cardinal said India could make great strides ahead in spiritual progress, to be measured not so much by the stock exchange than by the growth of civic sense and moral values. He said "Christ loves India and India needs Christ".
Cardinal Dias said three evils threatened the country: "Ethnic chauvinism, the caste system and corruption". He expressed hope that India's many parties and politicians would show themselves to be above all statesmen of moral integrity, committed to working for the poor and outcast. The cardinal reiterated that the work of the Church in India in the fields of education, social welfare and health does not have, and never did have, the aims of proselytism and conversions.
Before his speech, the bishop presided over the farewell Eucharist concelebrated by 18 bishops. Members of the Ecumenical Fellowship of Bishops and personalities who are actively involved in inter-faith dialogue were also present.
Kala Archarya of the Inter-Religious Centre at Somaiya College in Mumbai described Dias as a "light in India, who set inter-faith dialogue aflame, following in the footsteps of John Paul II". She expressed hope that "the whole world may find its path in the route he has traced".
Fr Anthony Charangat, director of media communications of Mumbai archdiocese, shared his reflections about the cardinal with AsiaNews. "Prayer, like a sacred thread, runs through the colourful tapestry of the life and ministry of Cardinal Dias. It is his intimacy with God in prayer that is the key to understanding the man and a clue to tracing the path he undertook, which often appeared so different from our obsessed control-culture society; he always let God be in control."
The priest said Cardinal Dias was rightly considered to be a "good shepherd and a firm defender of the faith, and he has always had the courage to speak the truth about it". He added: "May God always be with him so that he may proclaim Christ as a light to the nations in the new task assigned to him."
.png)
