Indian Diocese concludes Synod with a call for diocesan faithful to walk “as a family of believers”

Cardinal Anthony Poola led the Synod 2025 closing Mass of Kurnool Diocese in South India and urged the faithful to walk as a synodal family.

The Diocese of Kurnool, in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, concluded its Synod 2025 with a solemn Mass led by Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, on June 8, 2025, the Solemnity of Pentecost.

The Mass was held at the cathedral of the diocese—Our Lady of Lourdes—and attended by priests, nuns, and hundreds of faithful from parishes across the diocese.

The occasion also marked the release of a post-synodal document titled “Walking Together as a Family of Believers,” outlining the pastoral and administrative guidelines for the Diocese of Kurnool in the coming years.

Welcoming the gathering, Bishop Johannes Gorantla of Kurnool pointed out the three important aspects of the day: the conclusion of the Diocesan Synod 2025, the celebration of the ongoing Jubilee Year 2025, and the felicitation of Cardinal Poola for his participation in the recently concluded papal conclave.

Calling the occasion a “New Pentecost” for the diocese, Bishop Johannes invoked the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit to guide the local Church’s renewed journey of faith and mission.

In his homily, the cardinal reflected on the first Pentecost and the birth of the Church, sharing insights from his participation in the funeral Mass of Pope Francis and the papal conclave.

He called the election of Pope Leo XIV in just 24 hours a testament to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In a remark, echoing the famous Italian proverb, “Chi entra papa in conclave ne esce cardinale” ("He who enters the conclave as pope comes out a cardinal"), the prelate said that though the secular media spent days projecting many as papal candidates, the surprise election of Leo XIV is a sure indicator that the Holy Spirit was at work in the conclave.

He emphasized the need for the Church to become a synodal community, inviting women, youth, and laity to actively participate in liturgy, evangelization, charity, and pastoral ministry.

Referring to mercy, intelligence, and compassion, central to the pontificate of the late Pope Francis, Cardinal Poola called on the faithful to embody these values in their daily Christian witness. - with input from Pujitha Nagalli