The first citizen of India, Honourable President Ram Nath Kovind took special time from his busy schedule to meet a group of Catholic Church Prelates led by His Lordship Cardinal Basclios Cleemis, the President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). It was indeed a great quality time that the group got to spend with the President sharing their joy and discussing current religious situations of the country. Representing CBCI, His Eminence Cardinal Cleemis offered a bouquet of flowers and His Lordship Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay presented a garland while His Lordship Cardinal Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi gifted a photo frame of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to the President.
His Lordship Cardinal Cleemis remarked that “India was a democratic, secular, republic country and we live by the Sacred book of the country- the Indian Constitution and the Christian community, though a small minority has always served the country and will continue to serve the country in health care, education and other areas, in particular, serving the poorest of the poor and the marginalized.”
President Ram Nath Kovind appreciated the work of the Church for the poor and the downtrodden and reminded that while the world speaks of development, spirituality in this development was also important and he also appealed to the Bishops to continue this spiritual development.
