Pope Francis grants apostolic blessings to Archbishop Moras
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Vatican City, Nov 26: Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras, who is on an official visit to Rome, called on Pope Francis and obtained apostolic blessings on the Bangalore Archdiocese and the people of Karnataka.
The Archbishop, who is visiting the Vatican for the first time after the election of the new Pope, had a private audience with Pope Francis on Monday and presented him a fragrant sandalwood carving of Blessed Virgin Mary. He also garlanded the Pope with garlands of scented sandalwood and cardamom, all products that are synonymous with Karnataka, on behalf of the faithful from the State.
Pope Francis received Archbishop Moras very warmly and gladly imparted his Apostolic blessings to the people of Karnataka, and in a special way to the people of Bangalore, particularly the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese of Bangalore.
George Cardinal Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, was present during the audience. Bangalore Archdiocesan priests Frs Christopher Vimalraj and Cyril Victor accompanied Archbishop Moras to greet the Holy Father.
Archbishop Moras is on an official visit to Rome and is accommodated at Domus Sanctae Marthae, where Pope Francis resides. Archbishop Moras, therefore, dines in the same refectory with the Holy Father and celebrates Mass with the Holy Father in the same Chapel.
Archbishop Moras also had the rare privilege of concelebrating the Holy Eucharist along with Pope Francis to mark the conclusion of the Year of Faith celebrations at the Vatican on November 23.
As a consulter and member of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, Archbishop Moras is invited as a delegate to the XVIII International Conference organised by the Council focusing this year on the theme of “Care for the Elderly with Neurodegenerative Diseases.”
The World Health Organization’s Director for ageing, Dr John Beard, presenting epidemiological data, expressed concern that over 36 million people in the world suffer from dementia.
Professor of Palliative Medicine and Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom, Baroness Ilora Gillian Finlay spoke of the need for early detection and holistic approach directed towards bio-socio-psycho-spiritual aspects of the patient care.
The Director of the Catholic Hospital Association of India (CHAI), Fr Tomi Thomas and Dr Thomas Mathew, Professor of Neurology, St John’s National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, are among the 750 participants from 54 countries attending the International Conference at the Vatican.