Bishop Jacob Barnabas of Gurgaon died of post Covid-19 complications at noon on August 26 in a private hospital in New Delhi. He was 60.
Bishop Bernabas is the fifth Catholic prelate in India to die of Covid-19 and its complications.
The other bishops who died of Covid-19 were Paul Alois Lakra of Gumla in Jharkhand on June 16, retired Archbishop Antony Anandara-yar of Pondicherry-Cuddalore on May 5, and Basil Bhuriya of Jhabua in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the next day. Retired Bishop Joseph Pastor Neelankavil of Sagar Syro-Malabar diocese died on February 17.

The Kerala High Court on August 12 said that Cardinal George Alencherry must face trial in the land deal case. The court upheld the verdict of a district sessions court that on August 24, 2019, asked the cardinal and two others to stand trial in the case. The court has dismissed six petitions submitted by Cardinal Alencherry.

The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announced on 24 August that the pontiff is sending 100,000 euros in emergency aid to the people of Vietnam, which is in a state of dire crisis due to the socio-economic fallout from the pandemic.
In Vietnam, the pope’s act of solidarity joins the Catholic Church’s action in favour of COVID-19 victims, which continues with unreserved dedication.