Cardinal Anthony Poola has joined the transgender community of Hyderabad, a southern Indian city, to cele-brate Christmas that many say has sent a message of inclusivity and Christian love for the margi-nalized. “True Christmas lies in embracing the poor and ne-glected, offering them accep-tance and dignity,” said Cardi-nal Poola, the Archbishop of Hyderabad and a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Pro-moting Integral Human Deve-lopment. The December 18 celebration was organized by the Hyderabad Archdiocese Social Service Society (HASS). Cardinal Poola distributed certificates to transgenders who completed jute bag-making training programs facilitated by the society. He also presented sewing machines to women from Self-Help Groups and distri-buted Christmas gifts to all 93 transgender participants, along with members of the women SHG groups. “This semi-Chri-stmas celebration serves as a powerful testament to the Church’s commitment to inclu-sivity, spreading the message of love, hope, and dignity for all, especially those on the peri-pheries of society,” the cardinal added. The society director Father Madanu Anthony said the program was “a witness to the Church’s commitment to serving marginalized commu-nities.” Transgender community is among the most marginalized groups, often facing discrimi-nation and rejection and the cardinal’s gesture has sent out a “powerful message of inclu-sion and compassion,” Father Anthony added.