Archbishop Peter Machado has promised to light candles at 9 pm on April 5 as recommended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of the country’s campaign against coronavirus pandemic.

“May this gesture of lighting of candles and recitation of prayers bring our families closer together and also with our countrymen in these very anxious moments,” Archbishop Machado says in a message to the priests, nuns and friends in the archdiocese with headquarters in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka state in southern India.

The prelate said he has written to the state chief minister “promising our prayers and support, and expressing our sincere appreciation and gratitude to him, and to his ministers and the public personnel (doctors, nurses, police etc.) for their dedicated and selfless service in this time of Coronavirus crisis.”