Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Vatican’s Oriental Congregation, who reached Kochi Thursday on a five-day visit to India, called for religious freedom. "We ask for freedom of religion, to live in freedom and peace," he told a gathering at the St. Mary's Basilica in Kochi, where he was accorded a reception by Syro-Malabar Church.
The Cardinal said this in the background continuing tension Orissa state, where anti-Christian violence since August end has killed some 60 people and displaced about 50,000 Christians.
"Orissa is a name alive in the heart and lips of us as well as the people of Europe; we are with the persecuted church," said the cardinal, who heads the congregation that cares for the Oriental Churches.
The cardinal is scheduled to chair the Nov. 9 concluding function of a 10-day program in Palai to thank the newly canonized St. Alphonsa, a native of Palai.
Catholics in Palai, an Oriental diocese began the celebrations Oct. 31. The grand finale of the program would be the public meeting that the cardinal chairs. Former Indian Presidetn APJ Abdul Kalam is scheduled to be the chief guest.
India’s Apostolic nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, Major Archbishop Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil of Syro-Malbar Church, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi, Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil and bishops from other denominations and rites are also expected for the valedictory function.
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