The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Conversion not for numbers’

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Monday, Nov 26, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Conversion not for numbers’

A. Joseph Antony

Preacher to Pope Benedict XVI in Hyderabad

— PHOTO: Satish. H

Pearls of wisdom: Father Raniero Cantalamessa in Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD: “We only wish to propose and not impose Jesus Christ,” said Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to Pope Benedict XVI and ideologue of the Roman Catholic Church. In the city at the initiative of Bishop Ernest Komanapalli for unity among various Christian denominations and the invitation of Archbishop Marampudi Joji, he spoke to The Hindu in the run-up to the Festival of Unity in the Holy Spirit at the Nizam College grounds on Saturday.

“We seek the right to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus and give people the freedom of choice to accept it, without physical or psychological violence,” he said. “Conversion is not for numbers, not for power or domination,” he clarified. The Church views India as a homeland of religion and not as missionary territory. “India deserves to know Jesus, for He is a gift for all mankind, not just for Christians,” he said, pointing out Christianity has existed here for nearly 2,000 years. Despite Mahatma Gandhi’s disapproval of Christians, he viewed Jesus as a friend, not as a threat, exemplified by the Father of the Nation’s whole-hearted acceptance of the Messiah’s Sermon on the Mount.

An admirer of Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry, much of which has been adapted to Christian hymns, he said India connected well with Europe, thanks to common roots found in Sanskrit’s links to Latin and Greek.

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