PANAJI
Priests and laity in the State have reacted with dismay over the central government’s failure to officially invite Pope for Exposition in the State.
Speaking to The Goan, they said it was regrettable that the government had missed the opportunity to have had Pope Francis making a historic first-ever appearance to India, to coincide with the decennial Exposition in Goa.
“The visit of Pope Francis would have made history and would ignite great joy and spiritual synergy in Goa. We regret that the central government appears to have failed to open the doors of our country to Pope Francis,” remarked a senior priest from Ponda taluka.
Dr Fr Leslie Bosco Rego said the government should have been serious in officially inviting Pope Francis to Goa.
“What a joy it would have been to see our religious head visiting us here in Goa, more so as it ignites one’s faith and helps us to carry on with our mission in life,” said Fr Rego.
“We had Pope John Paul II visiting Goa in 1986 and this joyous moment is cherished by people even today, and memories are still not forgotten.”
“Lately, the Catholic community had been eagerly hoping that Pope Francis would visit Goa, but unfortunately it looks like that will not happen. The government should have taken it seriously in officially inviting our Pope and not just proclaim that “We have invited the Pope”. For us Goans, the presence of our religious heads matters a lot, and the government authorities have to take it seriously,” Fr Rego added.
Added a priest from Mormugao taluka: “Surprised? No. Disappointed? Yes. Right from the beginning, it was obvious that this government was playing with our sentiments, and we all know this drama.”
“The editorial in The Goan had rightly highlighted the hype over the “invitation” to the Pope as it was devoid of an official invite extended through the Ministry of External Affairs or the Prime Minister’s Office.”
“As far as Pope is concerned, I believe we will be blessed with the visit of His Holiness in God’s own time,” the priest added.
The Catholic Association of Goa, a non-political body which represents the Catholic laity in Goa, said it was disheartened that an official invite was not extended by the PMO to the Pope.
“The entire Christian community in Goa and India too was awaiting with baited breath for the visit of Pope Francis, on the promise made by our chief minister,” said Anderson Mendonca, Vice President of CAG.
“But it was so disheartening, to hear that an official invite wasn’t even extended by the PMO to the pontifical head of the 1.3 billion Catholics around the world.”
“The deafening silence from the Centre, despite the request made by the Goa Chief Minister, lays bare the obvious disconnect between political promises and actual intent.”
Incidentally, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant through an official communication about two months ago had requested the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to invite Pope Francis to India and Goa, in view of the decennial Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier.
Sources, however, said that the Union Ministry for External Affairs had not sent out an official invite to the Vatican in this connection.
