Church's mission to address disparities: Vatican representative

The mission of the Church also calls for addressing the growing social and economic disparity in India, said Cardinal Peter Turkson, the head of Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Cardinal Turkson on Thursday said the Church must engage in striving to remove poverty and restore dignity to people. He was speaking at the 30th general body meeting of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.

Cardinal Turkson rued that the country despite being the fourth largest economy in the world, is placed at 126 among 177 countries in the index of poverty.

Declaring that the Church was an expert in humanity, Turkson said Christians cannot resign to 'fatalism', but must be optimistic with a belief that a more just and peaceful world is possible.

"Testify to Christ's charity," he said, calling for a servant leadership on the model of Christ which should strive to build the Kingdom. "The church in India is like a leaven and there is need for a genuine life of communion," he added.

Cardinal Turkson was making his observations based on the theme of the biennial assembly - 'The Church's role for a better India'.

The weeklong assembly is attended by 170 bishops representing 164 dioceses across the country. Vatican's ambassador to India, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, presided over the opening celebration.

Speaking on the theme, CBCI President Cardinal Oswald Gracias, earlier described the Church as the conscience of the nation. Cardinal Gracias said the Church can play a paramount role in building a better India.

In view of the gathering, the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, in a message hailed the Church's yeoman service in education, healthcare and social services, and said the Church must continue to help in these areas, so that the "benefits of economic growth can have a positive impact to all sections of society".