The Church in North East India came together to study Pope Francis’ latest encyclical Fratelli Tutti to promote universal brotherhood and fraternity within the Church and with the people of other faiths.
Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati, who heads the Church in the region, says the Pope’s encyclical published in 2020 is “relevant today in our context more than ever.”
The prelate was inaugurating the annual regional pastoral conference at North East Diocesan Social Service Society Hall in Guwahati, Assam.
As many as 180 delegates from the 15 dioceses of the region attended the September 8-10 program.
The archbishop, who is president of the North East India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC), expressed solidarity with the people of Manipur who have suffered the four month ethnic violence,
“We are living a time when there is increased hatred, communal tensions, killings, polarization, and vandalism in our region, across the country and around the world. Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti can serve as a handbook to restore peace, brotherhood and sisterhood and social friendship among the people,” the prelate said.
Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore and the chairman for Commission for Laity of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in India, too spoke on the importance of brotherhood and a deep-rooted commitment for peace in the society, in the context of humanitarian crisis caused by large scale migration due to ethnic violence and religious polarisation.