PopeWatch-Government will make Pope's visit a 'glittering success'
October 27, 1999, 22:00 Hrs (IST)
New Delhi: The Indian Government today assured Parliament that the visit of Pope John Paul II next month would be made a "glittering success".
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh sought to allay fears expressed by various parties about agitations by groups associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Pope's visit.
He told the Rajya Sabha, that the commitment of the Government was to make the visit of the Pope a "glittering success" and "fears and concerns" expressed over the visit were overstated. "He is our honoured guest and Indian tradition treats the guest as God," said Singh, who is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the lead partner of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The BJP also said today it did not approve of the continuing agitations of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), or the World Hindu Council, in connection with the Pope's visit. Party spokesman Venkaiah Naidu said that the Pope was coming at the invitation of the government and any agitation would not do any good for the country and political parties.
Hindu nationalist groups have been protesting the visit of the Pope and demanding that he apologise for "forced conversions" of Hindus in India by Christian missionaries.
The protesting groups seemed to be toning down their statements against the Pope with the Bajrang Dal, considered a militant Hindu group, saying that it had no objection to the Pope's visit if it was meant to promote religious harmony. It however demanded that the Pope should not be given a state welcome.
During his visit, November 5-7, the Pope is expected to meet with leaders of various Indian religious denominations to "acknowledge, preserve and promote" the values found in these religions, it was announced today.
Spiritual leaders of Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Jew and Parsi faiths have been invited to meet with the Pope during his visit to India beginning November 4, Archbishop of Delhi Alan de Lastic said.
This meeting, which will help focus on the Catholic church's regard for all religions, comes in the wake of sporadic protests by Hindu nationalist groups demanding that the Pope during his visit should apologise for what they called "forced conversions" of Hindus to Christianity.
Certain Hindu groups have also demanded that the Pope should proclaim that all religions are equal. "The Hindu view that all religions are sacred contradicts the Vatican's view that only Christianity is sacred," an article in the latest issue of Organiser, published by an Hindu nationalist group, said.
The Vatican has not expressed any concern about the protests in India, the Archbishop said.
The main purpose of the Papal visit is to conclude the Special Assembly of the Asian Synod of Bishops which began in April 1998. He will promulgate the Synod document, "Churches in Asia," during his visit.
The Archbishop pointed out that during his first visit to India in 1986, the Pope told a gathering of religious leaders in Chennai that "meeting between members of different religions increases and deepens mutual respect..."
"The enigma of Indian spirituality and asceticism has held fascination for the Pope," the Archbishop said. The fact that the Pope was conducting the holy mass on the Hindu festival day of Deepavali was just a wonderful coincidence, he said. "The festival of lights is a symbol of conquering of the forces of darkness," he said.
The Archbishop, who is one of the seniormost Catholic leaders in India, said there is nothing called "forced conversion' because the word conversion itself signified a "change of heart".
The Archbishop also said neither the National Commission on Minorities nor the Wadhwa Commission which looked into the murder of Christian missionary Graham Staines had found any evidence of "so-called forced conversions."
Archbishop de Lastic also said that it would have been heartening if some of the protesting organisations had at least made a mention of the work that the church is doing in the field of education and health. "At least four million children are being educated by the church in the country," he said.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu whose Telugu Desam Party supports the Atal Behari Vajpayee Government has expressed concern at the threat posed by organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to hold protest meetings during the Pope's visit.
Nearly 16 million Catholics in India are euphoric over the visit of their spiritual head. Many Catholics consider it a blessing to be at the Pope's mass at least once during their lifetime. Catholics from all over the country, mostly Goa and Kerala, are expected to arrive in Delhi before November 7 to be at the mass. A huge open air altar has been designed for the mass at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
But many senior Catholics are worried about the security aspect of his visit. "If a person whom we feel is the closest messenger of God is insulted we will definitely feel bad about it. Besides, it would also sully the image of India in the eyes of the whole world," Aman Fernandes, member of the Catholic church, said.
Senior officials of the various security agencies have already reviewed the security measures. The Archbishop also expressed satisfaction at the meticulous security measures being taken by the Government for the visit.
The Sacred Heart Cathedral, situated near Delhi's famous shopping arcade Connaught Place and just across a famous Sikh shrine, is being spruced up for the Pope' visit. The Pope will address Catholic bishops during a synod in the church. An artist was seen repainting the statue of Jesus Christ in the compound of the famous church.
(IAN news service via IndiaInfoline)
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