Papal Delegate confers Pallium on two newly appointed Archbishops in India

Archbishop Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, conferred the Pallium on the Metropolitan Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura of Patna, at the St. Joseph's pro-Cathedral on October 23.  

The pallium is a woollen vestment traditionally conferred by the Pope on Archbishops at the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome. Pope Francis modified the ritual in 2015; the pallia would be blessed on the same feast at St. Peter's Basilica. The archbishops would receive it in a separate ceremony within their home dioceses from the hands of the Apostolic Nuncio. 

Speaking during the ceremony, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli said that Patna Archdiocese had over the years "established itself as a church for the poor." The prelate noted with appreciation the touching gesture of 84 priests during the pandemic who gave up a part of their monthly allowance to help the poor.

On October 24, the papal Nuncio celebrated the Mission Sunday Mass at the Queen of Apostles Parish in the Kurji locality of Patna, the largest parish in the Patna Archdiocese.

"Our duty as Catholics is to spread God's love, and we should be generous in loving our neighbours," the papal prelate said.

Patna Archdiocese has a population of about 60,000 Catholics spread over Bihar. Christians are about 0.2 percent of the population of the state.

Earlier on October 15, the papal delegate conferred the Pallium on newly appointed Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh of Shillong at Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, Laitumkhrah, Shillong in Northeast India.

the Nuncio said, "I am pleased to be here on my first visit to the region and to the state of Meghalaya. I see here a vibrant and participatory Church, which is at the heart of the Holy Father's synod on synodality."

Presenting the Pallium to archbishop Victor, the Nuncio said, "You represent our Lord who is a Prophet, Priest and King, to preach the good news on every condition, favourable and unfavourable with gentleness and firmness." 

He also spoke to those gathered at the ceremony to keep service at the core of their life. "Remember that we have become priests to serve the people and not to rule them. We must follow the example of Jesus Christ to lead the people in humility without any distinction on the basis of language, race or tribe," he said.