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Nobel laureate, Bishops from the Philippines to skip Pope's address

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

The Philippines, Asia's only Catholic majority country, and East Timor, likely to become the second soon, may go unrepresented at the closing session of the Synod of Asian Bishops to be addressed by Pope John Paul II at New Delhi.

According to sources, Bishops from the Philippines may skip the meet as the date collides with a crucial meeting of that country's bishops there, while the high-profile Bishop of Dilli, who won the Nobel peace prize a year back, would keep away because of the turmoil in his country.

According to available information less than 50 Bishops from countries other than India have conveyed their participation for the session. There are over 300 Catholic Bishops in Asia, of whom over 100 were original invitees to the Asian Synod which was held in 1998 in Vatican.

According to indications, the response from the Asian Bishops is lukewarm, as only a formal closure statement by the Pope is to be released here. No discussions are expected, and the Pope's statement would anyway be distributed among the Asian churches soon after. But the Pope's statement could turn controversial in India, as he is expected to give a call for evangelisation.

Sources said 120-odd Indian Bishops would be attending the functions in New Delhi. Less than 20 of them are original invitees to the Asian Synod. On November 6 at 6 PM the Pope is to deliver his closing address to the synod at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi.

The Vatican had invited a select group of over 100 Bishops from all over Asia for the Asian Synod in Vatican in 1998, which was held as part of the Catholic Church's preparation for the Year 2000 celebrations.

The Pope will be accompanied by an entourage of about 30, most of them senior Cardinals from the Vatican. According to available indications those who would be accompanying the Pope will include Cardinal Josef Tomko, prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelisation of the People, who looks after issues relating to evangelisation.

Sources said representatives from Communist China and Pakistan would be attending the New Delhi meet. But Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, apostolic administrator of Dilli, East Timor who won the Nobel peace prize last year, would not be coming. So are most bishops from the Philippines.

The topic of the Asian Synod is "Jesus Christ the Saviour and His Mission of Love and Service in Asia: ...that they may have life and have it abundantly." The topic was selected by the Pope "in the context of its (Asia's) plurality of religions and cultures, as well as the variety of socio-economic and political situations.

This plurality and variety provides fertile ground for ''the saving message of Jesus Christ the Saviour and opportunity for Church initiatives to demonstrate the Lord's love for Asia's peoples through various acts of loving service aimed at putting into action the Lord's gospel of life," the Vatican said.

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