CARDINAL TOMKO OPENS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH IN INDIA

VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2000 (VIS) - Cardinal Jozef Tomko, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples is in Bangalore, India, for the National Assembly of the Church in India where today he presided at the inaugural Mass and delivered the opening speech.

In his homily he recalled that "this meeting ... celebrates the culmination on a national level of the various diocesan and regional programs formed over three years ago for the Great Jubilee of the Birth of Jesus Christ - 'Yesu Krist Jayanti 2000'."

The cardinal also pointed out that the theme of the assembly is "Jesus Christ: The Foundation of our hope in a new Society." In this regard, he cited Pope John Paul's "Sollicitudo Rei Socialis" where he wrote that "the Church does not have technical solutions to offer for the problem of underdevelopment as such, but offers her first contribution to the solution of the urgent problem of development when she proclaims the truth about Christ, about herself and about man, applying this truth to a concrete solution.

"Thus, through the Gospel message, the Church offers a force for liberation which promotes development precisely because it leads to conversion of heart and of ways of thinking, fosters the recognition of each person's dignity, encourages solidarity, commitment and service to one's neighbor."

Cardinal Tomko once again underlined the assembly's theme when he gave the inaugural address. Focussing on the Church in India, he underscored the need for it to be "a praying Church, ... a free Church, ... and a Church in mission."

He especially stressed the role of the laity, saying that "the building of a new society - the theme of this assembly - calls for a greater involvement in human promotion. ... Your Church has a great need of a strong and involved Catholic laity. ... Most important also is the participation of women in the Church's mission for the building up of any society, whether in the circle of the family, or in various sodalities or associations at various levels of life."

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