Indian archdiocese receives relic of Pope John Paul II

Last updated on: September 16, 2013 at 8:55 pm by CNA Daily News

Indian archdiocese receives relic of Pope John Paul II 2013-09-16T20:55:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Bombay, India, Sep 16, 2013 / 02:55 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A reliquary containing a cloth with a drop of blood from Blessed Pope John Paul II will be displayed for veneration in a Marian Basilica in the Archdiocese of Bombay, India.

Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the apostolic nuncio to India, presented the relic to Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay at Mount Mary’s Basilica at Bandra.

Archbishop Pennacchio was in the archdiocese on an official two-day visit.

“The nuncio’s visit marks an important faith factor to reconfirm the growth of faith and mission activity of evangelization,” said Father Antony Charanghat, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Bombay.

He told CNA that receiving the relic during the current Year of Faith “is a twin joy.”

People in India have great “love, affinity and memory” of Pope John Paul II, as a result of his 1986 apostolic visit to the country, Fr. Charanghat said.

“People of all faith recognized him as an enduring Pope and a great leader.”

Known for his world travel and outreach to youth, among other things, Bl. John Paul II died in 2005 and will be canonized next spring.

The relic of the beatified Pope was presented to the rector of Mount Mary’s Basilica at the end of a Sept. 8 Mass.

Attended by more than 8,000 people, the Mass concluded a novena and festival of Mary’s Nativity, celebrated throughout the country by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

In his homily, the nuncio reflected on the Virgin Mary, to whom Pope John Paul II had a great devotion.

He defended Catholics’ veneration of Mary, noting that “we honor her precisely because she is the ‘best disciple’ the most transparent example of what it means to follow Jesus and to do God’s will.”

“Rightly understood, devotion to Mary helps us to be God-centered, as she was,” the nuncio explained, “and it will not take us away from Christ, but it will lead us to better follow the path of Jesus.”

Mary helps teach us our faith, he said, as “our sister, our ‘Mother of faith,’ our fellow disciple.”

Asia - Pacific

Previous Post

September 16, 2013

Pope calls faithful to pray, participate actively in politics

Next Post

September 16, 2013 Leaders call for prayer in response to deadly DC shooting

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book contains the story of the Valley of Dry Bones?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ezekiel Isaiah Daniel Jeremiah