New Delhi, Dec 23, 2024: In a historic event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit the headquarters of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) on December 23. The milestone visit took place in New Delhi as part of Christmas celebrations hosted by the bishops at the CBCI Centre.
During the event, Modi engaged with key figures from the Christian community, including cardinals, bishops, and prominent lay leaders, emphasizing the importance of unity and compassion in society. Addressing the gathering, Modi reflected on the teachings of Christ, highlighting love, harmony, and brotherhood as values that should be upheld universally.
“Christ teaches us love, harmony, and brotherhood,” Modi stated, urging everyone to contribute to strengthening these virtues in society. He expressed his sorrow over attempts to disrupt peace through violence and division, stressing the need for collective efforts to counter such challenges.
The prime minister pointed to global incidents of violence, such as the Christmas market attack in Germany and the 2019 Easter bombings in Sri Lanka, as reminders of the importance of unity in combating such threats. “Only a human-centric approach, as adopted by India, can lead the 21st-century world to new heights,” he emphasized.
Modi also recalled a deeply personal and “satisfactory” moment in his career—India’s successful efforts to rescue Father Alexis Prem Kumar from captivity in Afghanistan a decade ago. Father Kumar, a member of Jesuit Refugee Services, had been kidnapped by gunmen in Herat province on June 2, 2014. The prime minister noted how the Jesuit had been held hostage for eight months before his release was secured.
“It was an emotional commitment for us to bring back a family member,” Modi said, reflecting on the mission. He first announced Father Kumar’s release via Twitter on February 22, 2015, marking a significant moment in India’s efforts to protect its citizens abroad.
Expanding on the theme of India’s commitment to its people, Modi asserted that it is the nation’s duty to ensure the safety of its citizens, irrespective of their location or the crises they face. Recalling the global challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, he criticized countries that prioritized self-interest over helping poorer nations.
“When the COVID pandemic struck, many nations that talked big about human rights backed away from helping poorer countries,” Modi observed. He praised India’s efforts to transcend its own capabilities, citing the provision of medicines to over 150 countries and the distribution of vaccines to many nations as examples of India’s human-centric approach.
He credited India’s youth for instilling confidence in the nation’s future, affirming that the dream of a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India) will undoubtedly be realized. Modi also celebrated the achievements of Indian clergy, noting with pride the appointment of Father George Koovakad, a priest from Kerala, as a cardinal by Pope Francis.
The visit was warmly received by members of the CBCI and other Church leaders. Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, the CBCI president and archbishop of Trichur, described the occasion as unprecedented, noting that this marked the first time an Indian prime minister had visited the CBCI Centre.
“We are honored, we praise God because the Prime Minister has come… on behalf of Christians, we wish all Indians a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” Archbishop Thazhath tweeted after the program.
Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi, the CBCI general secretary, expressed his joy at Modi’s participation. “I’m very happy that the prime minister is coming to the CBCI Center and joining us for this Christmas meeting. Christmas is a time of togetherness, of love, of affection, and I’m happy that together we are celebrating the birth of Jesus,” Archbishop Couto remarked.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the archbishop of Bombay and a former CBCI president, also lauded Modi’s presence, viewing it as a sign of the prime minister’s concern for minority communities. “This is a beautiful event organized by CBCI, and the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi shows his concern towards the minority communities,” said Cardinal Gracias, who is also a member of Pope Francis’ advisory committee.
The CBCI, one of the earliest bishops’ conferences in the world, was established in 1944. It represents all three ritual Catholic Churches in India—Latin, Syro-Malabar, and Syro-Malankara.
Modi’s visit to the CBCI Centre followed another recent interaction with the Christian community. A week earlier, he attended a Christmas celebration at the residence of federal Minister George Kurian in New Delhi, where he engaged with members of the community.
The event was seen as a significant step in fostering unity and dialogue between the government and religious minorities, underscoring the prime minister’s message of love, harmony, and human-centric development.