Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Christmas celebrations organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) at the CBCI Center premises in New Delhi on Monday. | Photo Credit: ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Dec 23, 2024) condemned attempts to incite violence in society, saying it was deplorable when attempts to spread inequality and violence lead to disintegration in society.
“A few days ago, the world saw what happened at the Christmas market in Germany. The teachings of Jesus Christ celebrate love, harmony and brotherhood,” the Prime Minister said while addressing a Christmas celebration organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in New Delhi.
India should be united to fight such challenges, he pointed out.
It was the first time that the Prime Minister participated in such a program held at the headquarters of the Catholic Church in India and while addressing the gathering, he stressed the need to work together for the national interest.
He said that India showed this feeling during the Covid epidemic and emphasized on the need to keep in mind not only the national interest but also the larger human interest.
“India prioritizes both national interest and human interest in its foreign policy. India has gone beyond its capacity to help poor countries during the Covid pandemic and has provided medicines to more than 150 countries,” he said.
Today, India is registering progress and has become the fifth largest economy. “Also, nearly 250 million people in India have overcome poverty in the last one decade,” the Prime Minister said while congratulating the youth of the Christian community for contributing to various national initiatives to make the country a ‘Developed India’.
“Our collective goal should be to work together to fulfill this dream,” said the Prime Minister.
Citing a quote from the Bible about “carrying the burdens of others”, Mr. Modi said the Bible gives hope a source of strength and peace.
“Our institutions and organizations work on this motto. Jesus Christ showed the world the way of compassion and selfless service and today the country is moving forward with the common goal of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Tryas’. We have made sensitivity a standard of work,” The Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the rescue of Indians stranded in war-torn nations, saying that wherever they are or whatever crisis they face, today’s India sees it as its duty to bring its citizens to safety.
“We have brought back our nurses who were stranded in the Gulf countries. It was a very satisfying moment for me when we brought father Alexis Prem Kumar safely back from war-torn Afghanistan a decade ago. For us, all these missions are not just diplomatic missions, but an emotional commitment to bring back family members,” he said.
The Prime Minister also expressed his pride in the promotion of Father George Kuvacad as a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. “It is a moment of pride that His Holiness Pope Francis has made His Excellency George Kouvakad a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church,” he said while inviting Pope Francis to visit India.
During the event, Mr. Modi interacted with prominent leaders of the Christian community, cardinals, bishops and church leaders.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) was established in 1944 and works to facilitate the discussion and study of issues affecting the Church and to adopt a common policy and action for matters affecting the interests of the Church in India.
published – December 23, 2024 10:51 pm IST