India’s Latin Rite Church gathers in Bangalore for a national synodal assembly focusing on youth, ecology, inclusion, and interfaith dialogue.
Newsroom (04/05/2026 Gaudium Press) The Latin Rite Catholic Church in India has convened its National Synodal Assembly in Bangalore, bringing together approximately 220 delegates from across the country under the theme “Synodal Pilgrims of Hope.” The gathering, held at St John’s Medical College, reflects the Church’s ongoing engagement with the global synodal process initiated by Pope Francis in 2021.
The assembly forms part of a broader effort to foster communion, participation, and mission among the faithful. In India, this process has unfolded through consultations at diocesan, regional, and national levels. The current gathering includes a diverse cross-section of the Church: two cardinals, 25 bishops, 65 priests, more than 20 women religious, and over 100 lay participants, with notable representation from women and young people.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), inaugurated the proceedings by recalling the pastoral plan “Walking towards a synodal Church: Mission 2033.” He urged delegates to build upon the vision articulated during the 36th Plenary Assembly in Bhubaneswar in 2025. From sixteen identified pastoral priorities, the assembly has focused its reflection on four key areas: interreligious dialogue and peace-building, inclusion of marginalized communities, poverty and integral ecology, and the accompaniment of children and young people.
Delegates are engaging in spiritual conversations using a method developed during the Synod process, emphasizing prayerful listening, dialogue, and communal discernment guided by the Holy Spirit. The discussions are also oriented toward the Jubilee Year 2033, marking two thousand years since the Redemption, envisioned as a milestone for renewed missionary commitment.
On the second day of the assembly, discussions centered on youth accompaniment and ecological justice. A session moderated by Fr Suresh Mathew stressed the need for age-specific pastoral care for young people. Speakers Sunil Antony Thomas and Shoy Thomas highlighted the importance of safeguarding measures, including awareness initiatives, effective reporting systems, and a zero-tolerance stance on abuse. They underscored that while programs may educate, it is relationships that transform, calling for authentic witness and a deeper sense of belonging through peer support and pastoral guidance. The role of families, parishes, and youth leadership—along with meaningful digital engagement—was also emphasized.
Another session, moderated by Olinda Timms, explored the intersection of environmental and social challenges. Jean D’Cunha, referencing Pope Francis’s encyclical “Laudato Si’,” urged participants to heed both “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” advocating for sustainable lifestyles and ecological justice. Arlene Manoharan pointed to the widening gap between economic growth and persistent poverty, noting that deprivation encompasses not only income but also access to dignity, education, and healthcare. Delegates were encouraged to pursue concrete actions rooted in justice and inclusion.
On the morning of the assembly’s third day, Cardinal Antony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Addressing participants, he emphasized the dynamic nature of the synodal journey: “We are not standing still. We are on a journey. We proceed step by step, but we journey with Jesus.”
Although the assembly concludes today, the synodal process in India will continue with further consultations scheduled for September 2026, leading up to the 38th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI in January 2027. Through ongoing prayer, dialogue, and shared discernment, the Church in India aims to strengthen its mission as a community of believers walking together in hope.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from asianews.it
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