Indians to Participate in Pope John Paul II's Beatification

Bangalore, Apr 20 (PTI): Scores of Indian Christians, including the clergy and followers, will participate in the beatification ceremony of late Pope John Paul II to be held in Vatican city in Rome on May 1.

Beatification, a step before one is declared a saint, will be held by current Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras told reporters.

Moras, who had interacted with the late papal chief on several occasions, would also be leaving for Rome to take part in the ceremony which is expected to be attended by close to three million people from across the globe.

Following the beatification, Pope John Paul second would be addressed as 'blessed', he said, adding, the process of beatification was the culmination of years of various procedures laid down by the church, including the instance of miracle which the church recognises and accepts.

Narrating his own experience with the Pope who visited India on two occasions, he said, "He was one of the most cordial Pope. He was approachable...He was very communicative, full of energy and would hold your hand. I had the occasion to sit next to him twice, once during a meal. I thought I was so fortunate. Whenever we met he always recollected his India visit. He knew a lot about India, the people, the languages, culture. The late Pope was well informed about India and had also said Indian people were most hospitable," he said.

"When he came to India for the first time in 1986 he was youthful, he was dynamic and conquered everyone's heart. People went to see him in lakhs and lakhs. But in the second visit when he came, his health had begun declining, he found it difficult, but was full of energy," he said.

In Karnataka the occasion will be celebrated by holding a special mass during which 14 deacons will be conferred the priestly ordination. The Archdiocesan community centre would screen a documentary on the Pope during May. Special symposiums will be organised on the occasion. Programmes for the youth will be held in June and July since the Pope was close to the youth. Since Pope John Paul had been a worker prior to becoming a priest, special workers day will be organised during the year to mark in his honour.

Church supports Lokpal Bill: Archbishop

Bangalore, Apr 20 (PTI): Coming out against corruption, the Karnataka Region Catholics Bishop Council today said the Church welcomed the proposed Lok Pal Bill and expressed the hope that it would cover all sections of people.

"While welcoming the Lok Pal Bill, we hope it will cover all situations, all people," Archbishop of Bangalore and Council president Bernard Moras said. Such a bill would help infuse confidence and build trust among the people, he said during a press meet organised to give out the message of Good Friday and Easter to the people.

He said the Church stood for justice, for anti-corruption, and condemns bribe. "The Bible condemns any bribe because it is intrinsically evil, it is immoral... specially so as it goes against the interest of the poor, the downtrodden, who are the ones who suffer," he said. "The church therefore has a duty to join hands with all those concerned working for anti-corruption," he said referring to Anna Hazare, who is leading a campaign for a strong anti-graft legislation.

"The church supports the movement of civil right leaders," he said, adding that corruption needs to be eliminated and such anti-graft movement cannot be carried out by just one person but needs the coordinated efforts of all.

On the Lok Pal panel being mired over the CD controversy involving eminent lawyer and Lokpal Bill panel co-chair Shanti Bhushan, the Archbishop said, "I am not competent to comment on that but one thing I would like to say if someone really is not open enough to be there...then they have no right to be there (on the panel)."