Pope Leo XIV Praises Indian Catholic Church for Its Faith and Service

Pope Leo XIV Praises Indian Latin Catholic Church for Its Pastoral Mission VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV met with a delegation of Indian Catholic bishops at the Vatican, expressing appreciation for the pastoral efforts and mission of the Latin Catholic Church in India. The meeting took place on August 28, the Feast of St. Augustine, and lasted for more than 45 minutes. Discussions focused on the life, mission and pastoral concerns of the Latin Catholic Church in India, as well as its efforts to strengthen its pastoral outreach. The delegation was led by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman and President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI). He was accompanied by Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, CCBI Vice President; Archbishop Vincent Aind of Ranchi, CCBI Secretary General; and Father Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI. According to Cardinal Ferrão, the meeting was warm and cordial. He noted that Pope Leo XIV has a longstanding connection with India, having visited the country twice in 2004 and 2006 while serving as Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine. During the meeting, the Pope particularly appreciated the efforts of the Latin Church in India and its preparation and publication of the CCBI Pastoral Plan. The delegation also presented several gifts representing India's rich cultural heritage and the country's Christian history. Cardinal Ferrão presented Pope Leo XIV with an oak-wood plaque featuring Jesus Christ surrounded by 12 saints connected with the Church in India. The saints depicted included St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Bartholomew the Apostle, St. Francis Xavier, St. Gonsalo Garcia, St. Joseph Vaz, St. John de Britto, St. Devasahayam, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Alphonsa, St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, St. Euphrasia and St. Mariam Thresia. Other members of the delegation presented the Pope with traditional Indian shawls, including a Kasavu shawl from Kerala and a handcrafted Pattu shawl from Kashmir. They also gifted five varieties of tea from Darjeeling, Assam and the Nilgiris. Father Stephen Alathara presented copies of the CCBI's pastoral documents, including “Journeying Towards a Synodal Church: CCBI Mission 2033,” the Bhubaneswar Document of the 36th CCBI Plenary Assembly held in 2025, and a Catholic edition of the English Standard Version Bible approved by the CCBI. The ESV Bible carried particular significance because of its connection with the Pope's American roots and his association with Chicago. The Vatican meeting was also significant for the CCBI because it marked the first time that its office bearers visited the Holy Father together as an official delegation. The CCBI represents the Latin Catholic Church across India, bringing together 132 Latin dioceses, 217 bishops, 564 religious congregations and nearly 18 million Latin Catholics. Its Pastoral Plan, launched in 2024, seeks to provide a common pastoral vision for the Latin Catholic Church in India and guide its mission in the years ahead. The meeting with Pope Leo XIV highlighted the growing importance of pastoral planning, synodal participation and collaboration within the Catholic Church in India. His appreciation for the efforts of the Latin Church offered encouragement to Indian Catholic leaders as they continue working toward a stronger and more united pastoral mission.