Bishops organize prayer day for elections

Officials have made arrangements to reach the circular to all the priests, religious and lay faithful across the country.

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis (Photo: deccanchronicle)

New Delhi:  The head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has appealed Catholics across the nation to dedicate April 6 Sunday as a day of prayer to help the nation vote for the best of leaders in the upcoming general elections.

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, president of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India in a circular said it should be "a day of intense prayer for the peaceful conduct of the general elections and for the divine assistance for all the citizens of India so that we may elect the best persons who will stand for the moral values and principles in public life."

He drew attention to the directives and guidelines issued by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, his predecessor.

It stressed on to elect leaders who uphold secularism, spirit of inter-religious dialogue, care for the minorities and weaker sections and protect their rights and work for their uplift.

Cardinal Cleemis asked pray for divine assistance for all the citizens of India so that we may elect the best persons who will stand for the moral values and principles in public life; uphold the democratic and secular character of our great nation.

On April 6, special prayers may be included in the Holy Mass and wherever possible, Holy Hour may be conducted in our Churches, Chapels and Oratories and pray intensely for the intentions mentioned above, the circular said.

Officials have made arrangements to reach the circular to all the priests, religious and lay faithful across the country.

Caridnal Cleemis expressed confidence that "our ardent prayers will be heard" and God "will inspire the hearts and illumine the minds of our people to choose the right people to lead our nation in the right path."

Press Release