Scottish Catholic Observer

The retired Archbishop of Westminster was asked by Pope Benedict XVI to serve as the official Papal representative and he arrived in India on Tuesday and will remain there until next Friday.

In 1986 Pope John Paul delivered a message of hope; concern for the poor and encouragement to the religious men and women of India. He is seen above during that trip reaching out to an ill man at Nirmal Hriday Home for the Dying as Mother Teresa of Calcutta looks on.

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor will celebrate those achievements and reflect on the long-established ties enjoyed by the UK and India.

The cardinal commented that he feels ‘very privileged’ to be asked by the Holy Father to represent him in India and in so doing, is also responding to an invitation made by the Indian Bishops’, on behalf of the Indian people, keen to re-live Pope John Paul’s memorable Apostolic Pilgrimage 25 years on.

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor will visit many of the areas visited by Pope John Paul. He will celebrate Mass in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Delhi; pray with the members of Mother Teresa’s Works of Charity in Calcutta and meet with the clergy and religious of Mumbai (Bombay.)

He will also meet with seminarians at the Goregaon Seminary. Before departing, the cardinal will celebrate a final Mass with the youth of India.

The trip is the cardinal’s first to India and it follows his recent participation in the Apostolic Visitation to Ireland. The visitation was announced by Pope Benedict last year in a Pastoral letter to Ireland’s Catholics and had the purpose of identifying whether reforms of the local Church, seminaries and religious communities have been put in place following the allegations of clerical sexual abuse and the effectiveness of the Church’s current processes in responding to abuse.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor’s Itinerary in India
February 3
Visit to Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi
Courtesy call to H.E. the President of India
Symposium on Pope John Paul II

February 4
Ranchi
Symposium about Social Concerns – Tribal Issues

February 5
Solemn Mass in Ranchi
Address to the priests, religious, seminarians and laity of the Archdiocese of Ranchi

February 6
Calcutta
Visit to Mother Teresa’s Works of Charity
Public Mass (Theme – Charity and Social Services)

February 7
Cochin
Solemn Mass

February 8
Mumbai
Mass at Holy Name Cathedral
Unveiling/blessing of Pope John Paul II Statue

February 9
Bombay
Meeting with Clergy and Religious of Bombay
Goregaon Seminary
Meeting with Clergy and Religious of Vasai Diocese

February 10
Inter-religious meeting
Mass (Theme – Youth)

February 11
Departure for London