Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, has urged his priests to pay full salaries of March and April to those working in archdiocesan institutions.

“After consulting our bishops and the Finance Office, I am directing that the March and April salaries be paid in full even though our workers have not been coming due to the lockdown. We will review the situation in May,” Cardinal Gracias said in an April 27 video message to all the priests in the archdiocese.

The cardinal told the priests that he was addressing them during an “extraordinary period” when the government-imposed nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic. “The end of the lockdown is approaching, but please prepare yourself for a possible extension,” said the prelate who has been leading the Indian Church’s efforts to bring relief to people affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first imposed the lockdown from March 25 to April 14, then extended it to May 3. Many say it could be further extended as pandemic shows no sign of abatement.

“Looking at the number of reported cases in our Archdiocese and the number of containment zones, it does not seem likely that the restrictions will be lifted. And even after these are lifted, I would expect that permitting of religious assemblies will take more time,” the cardinal said.

Bombay archdiocese covers Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra that tops the number of Covid-19 cases in India.

Cardinal Gracias urged the priests to be prepared for “an extended period” of church closure. Even after the lockdown is lifted, it would be several months before the country would overcome the coronavirus.

He reminded the priests that funeral is the only religious service they are allowed to perform in the lockdown period.