Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão led the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) in according a warm farewell to Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, who served from March 13, 2021 to April 23, 2026.
The farewell gathering was hosted by the Apostolic Nunciature in New Delhi on Thursday.
In his message, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão gratefully recalled Archbishop Girelli’s dedicated service to the Church in India. He highlighted in a special way his concern for the poor and his sustained efforts to foster unity within the Church and in society.
Besides CCBI President Cardinal Ferrão, others present at the event included CCBI Vice President Archbishop of Bangalore Peter Machado; Archbishop of Delhi Anil Couto; Major Archbishop of Syro Malankara Church Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis; Archbishop of Faridabad Kuriakose Bharanikulangara; Archbishop of Agra Raphy Manjaly; more than 15 bishops from the northern region; and Rev Dr Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI. Ambassadors from various countries and several eminent personalities from Delhi were also present.
In his response, Archbishop Girelli expressed sincere gratitude to the Indian hierarchy and Church leaders for their support during his pontifical mission.
He noted that his service in India was both challenging and enriching. He described the Church in India as vibrant and beautiful, marked by rich ritual traditions and deep cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity.
As a gesture of appreciation, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão presented a memento to Archbishop Girelli. Archbishop Peter Machado and Archbishop Anil Couto honoured him with a traditional Indian shawl. Rev Dr Stephen Alathara handed over a letter of gratitude on behalf of the Latin Church in India.
Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli departed India on Friday to assume his new pontifical mission in Croatia, a country in Eastern Europe.
