logo
For Fr William Nellikkal, Pope was a man who preached mercy and inclusion

For Fr William Nellikkal, Pope was a man who preached mercy and inclusion

Time of India21-04-2025

Kochi: For
Fr William Nellikkal
, who spent 12 years at
Vatican Radio
and worked under two Popes, the papacy of
Pope Francis
was marked by a desire to communicate the mercy of Christ to the world. "I knew him from when he was a Cardinal as we stayed in the Domus Internationalis Paulus VI. He always lived in room No.205 while I was in No.2011. He was very simple in his habits and throughout his papacy, it was evident that he wanted the Church to adopt a stance of mercy towards people," he said.
"I recall that he never came down for breakfast. When I asked him, he said he preferred a cup of tea and kept a kettle in his room. He invited me for tea, which was an enlightening time. I would always see him spending long hours in prayer in the chapel, and he preferred to stay on the sidelines during the mass."
In keeping with his belief that the Church should be inclusive, Pope Francis announced the extraordinary jubilee of Mercy. He abolished the ritual of washing the feet of 12 men and instead included 12 persons of different identities, including men, women, the elderly, the young, children and the handicapped. "It sent out a message that the Church should be all-inclusive and supported women being appointed to various top positions."
Fr Nellikkal said the Pope never celebrated his birthday but invited people living on the streets to the Vatican, spending the whole day with them. "He ensured setting up of special toilets and bath facilities for street dwellers of the Vatican and also provided them an area for laundry to wash and dry their own clothes, which is still live and active even now," he added.
Kochi: For Fr William Nellikkal, who spent 12 years at Vatican Radio and worked under two Popes, the papacy of Pope Francis was marked by a desire to communicate the mercy of Christ to the world. "I knew him from when he was a Cardinal as we stayed in the Domus Internationalis Paulus VI. He always lived in room No.205 while I was in No.2011. He was very simple in his habits and throughout his papacy, it was evident that he wanted the Church to adopt a stance of mercy towards people," he said.
"I recall that he never came down for breakfast. When I asked him, he said he preferred a cup of tea and kept a kettle in his room. He invited me for tea, which was an enlightening time. I would always see him spending long hours in prayer in the chapel, and he preferred to stay on the sidelines during the mass."
In keeping with his belief that the Church should be inclusive, Pope Francis announced the extraordinary jubilee of Mercy. He abolished the ritual of washing the feet of 12 men and instead included 12 persons of different identities, including men, women, the elderly, the young, children and the handicapped. "It sent out a message that the Church should be all-inclusive and supported women being appointed to various top positions."
Fr Nellikkal said the Pope never celebrated his birthday but invited people living on the streets to the Vatican, spending the whole day with them. "He ensured setting up of special toilets and bath facilities for street dwellers of the Vatican and also provided them an area for laundry to wash and dry their own clothes, which is still live and active even now," he added.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bhoomi Habba to return to the city this weekend
Bhoomi Habba to return to the city this weekend

The Hindu

time6 days ago

  • The Hindu

Bhoomi Habba to return to the city this weekend

'It is a new worldview that we are trying to reflect on,' says Mercy Kappen, Executive Director of Visthar, which will be organising the 17th edition of Bhoomi Habba – The Earth Festival, on June 7. The festival, which will be held at the Visthar Campus in Bengaluru between 10 am and 7 pm, seeks to go beyond modern-day consumerist culture, helping people to see that 'alternatives exist and different ways of living and making a living are possible.' According to Mercy, the festival started in 2008 as the Festival of Justpeace, part of the School of Peace, an international leadership development programme where young people from conflict zones in Southeast Asia would come to the campus for a three-month course. 'As part of that course, we wanted them to organise a festival on justice and peace,' she says. When the School of Peace moved from the Visthar Campus in Bengaluru to another country, 'we didn't want to give up this experience of organising, gathering people, looking at diverse cultural forms and food,' says Mercy. 'So, we decided to continue the festival, but we changed it to Bhoomi Habba because we felt that justice and peace should be seen in relation to eco-justice…in the context of our relationship with the earth and environment.' Creating awareness The festival, which was earlier held on Labour Day on May 1, moved to the Saturday closest to World Environment Day, June 5. 'For more than 12 years now, it has been Bhoomi Habba, and each year, we have been focusing on different themes,' she says, adding that the theme for this year is climate resilience and sustainable communities. 'The idea is to highlight those themes and create awareness; besides its celebratory dimensions, we want people to reflect on issues.' In Mercy's opinion, discussions around climate change often remain at a 'higher policy-making body level', frequently neglecting marginalised people. 'We want to bridge that gap and listen to stories of people, their expressions of hopelessness and how they have been dealing with these issues. I feel that there is a lot to learn from people at the grassroots who are dealing with this crisis.' Mercy believes in a 'multi-stakeholder approach where people of different backgrounds, people who are differently affected, come together, reflect and take action.' She hopes that the festival will play its part in creating a consciousness about climate justice. 'In a context like this, where a large number of people are gathered and focus on these issues, there is some kind of an impact.' Festival highlights Some of the highlights of this festival include Baul songs by Santi Priya, a performance titled Bamboo Bodies by Shilpika Bordoloi, a storytelling session by Charumathi Supraja, workshops on seed ball making, community gardening, traditional eco-arts and crafts and creating toys out of trash, film screenings, exhibitions and traditional game sessions, in addition to over 70 stalls showcasing organic and eco-friendly products from local artisans and farmer collectives. 'I feel that art has a deeper impact on people, touching us deeply,' says Mercy, who also believes that visual or performance art goes far beyond just being entertainment. 'It is something, which deeply impacts us spiritually and compels us to think about the earth that is being impacted by the current models of development.' Bhoomi Habba—The Earth Festival will be held at the Visthar Campus, off Hennur Main Road, on June 7, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. To learn more, log in to

Pope Leo XIV pledges to promote unity, peace through Catholic Church
Pope Leo XIV pledges to promote unity, peace through Catholic Church

Business Standard

time18-05-2025

  • Business Standard

Pope Leo XIV pledges to promote unity, peace through Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV, history's first American pope, vowed on Sunday to work for unity so that the Catholic Church becomes a sign of peace in the world, offering a message of love and communion during an inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square before tens of thousands of people, presidents, patriarchs and princes. Leo officially opened his pontificate by taking his first popemobile tour through the piazza, a rite of passage that has become synonymous with the papacy's global reach and mediatic draw. The 69-year-old Augustinian missionary smiled and waved from the back of the truck, but didn't appear to stop to kiss babies and the crowd. During the Mass, Leo appeared to choke up when the two potent symbols of the papacy were placed on him the pallium woolen stole over his shoulders and the fisherman's ring on his finger as if the weight of responsibility of leading the 1.4-billion strong church had just sunk in. He turned his hand to look at the ring and seal and then clasped his hands in front of him in prayer. Security was tight as civil protection crews in neon uniforms funnelled pilgrims into quadrants in the piazza and up and down the boulevard that leads to it for the ceremony blending ancient ritual, evocative symbols and a dose of modern-day celebrity. US Vice President JD Vance, one of the last foreign officials to see Pope Francis before he died, led the US delegation honouring the Chicago-born Leo after paying his respects at the Argentine pope's tomb upon arriving in Rome late Saturday. The theme of Leo's papacy In his homily, Leo said he wanted to be a servant to the faithful through the two dimensions of the papacy, love and unity, so that the church could be a force for peace in the world. I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world, he said. In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalises the poorest. His call for unity was significant, given the polarization in the Catholic Church in the United States and beyond. Francis' radical 12-year pontificate, which emphasized care for the poor and marginalized and disdain for the capitalist economic system, often alienated conservatives and traditionalists. Leo's May 8 election, after a remarkably quick 24-hour conclave, has appeared at the outset to have pleased conservative Catholics who seem to appreciate his more disciplined, traditional style and Augustinian background, emphasizing core truths of Catholic doctrine. Tight security and protocol Strict diplomatic protocol dictated the seating arrangements at his inaugural Mass, with both the United States and Peru getting front-row seats thanks to Leo's dual citizenship. Vance, a Catholic convert who tangled with Francis over the Trump administration's mass migrant deportation plans, is being joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Rome ahead of time to try to advance Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Peruvian President Dina Boluarte is one of around a dozen heads of state attending, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia is being represented by the culture minister, Olga Liubimova. Diplomatic protocol also dictated the dress code: While most wore black, the handful of Catholic queens and princesses Charlene of Monaco and Letizia of Spain among others wore white in a special privilege allowed them. Three dozen of the world's other Christian churches sent their own delegations, the Jewish community had a 13-member delegation, half of them rabbis. Other representatives headed Buddhist, Muslim, Zoroastrian, Hindu, Sikh and Jain delegations. Americans are rejoicing US seminarian Ethan Menning, 21, from Omaha, Nebraska, wrapped himself in an American flag, purchased at a truck stop in Iowa, to celebrate. Rome always felt like home for a Catholic, but now coming here and seeing one of our own on the throne of Peter ... it almost makes Jesus himself more accessible, he said. Kalen Hill, a pilgrim from the US, got to St. Peter's soon after the gates opened at dawn Sunday morning and said he never expected an American would lead the 1.4-billion strong church. I would say all the Americans are emotional about it," he said. "It is really powerful for American Catholics who sometimes feel separated from the world church to be brought in and included in this community through Pope Leo. Signs of Leo's priorities The two symbols of the papacy handed to Leo were the pallium, and the fisherman's ring. The pallium, draped across his shoulders, symbolises the pastor carrying his flock as the pope carries the faithful. The ring, which becomes Leo's official seal, harks back to Jesus' call to the apostle Peter to cast his fishing nets. The other symbolically important moment of the Mass was the representational rite of obedience to Leo: Whereas in the past all cardinals would vow obedience to the new pope, more recent papal installations involve representatives of cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, married couples and young people participating in the rite. In the days since his historic election, Leo has already sketched out some of his key priorities as pope. In his first foreign policy address, he said the Holy See's three pillars of diplomacy were peace, justice and truth. In his first major economics address, he emphasised the Catholic Church's social doctrine and the search for truth. After the homily and at the end of the Mass, Leo will offer a final blessing and then go into the basilica to greet the heads of the more than 150 official delegations attending. Security was tight, as it was for Francis' funeral on April 26, which drew an estimated 250,000 people. Rome authorities are planning for another 250,000 on Sunday. The piazza and main boulevard leading to it, and two nearby piazzas were set up with giant television screens, and dozens of portable toilets have been erected in a nearby park. Gregory and Susan Hudak, who lived for 40 years in the Chicago area, found themselves in Rome after booking a trip in February, with just a faint hope of perhaps glimpsing the pope. Seeing the popemobile pass by in front of them, with the Chicago-born Leo on board, was even better than watching Michael Jordan play, said Gary Hudak, a former altar boy wearing a Chicago Bears hat. Originally, the only hope I had coming here was to see the inside of the Sistine Chapel," he said. "I was glad the conclave was over, because I could get to see the inside of the Sistine Chapel. Seeing the pope was not scheduled, it was a long shot hope. And this was a treasure, simple as that.

Pope Leo XIV vows to work for unity so Catholic Church becomes a sign of peace in the world
Pope Leo XIV vows to work for unity so Catholic Church becomes a sign of peace in the world

New Indian Express

time18-05-2025

  • New Indian Express

Pope Leo XIV vows to work for unity so Catholic Church becomes a sign of peace in the world

VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV, history's first American pope, vowed Sunday to work for unity so that the Catholic Church becomes a sign of peace in the world, offering a message of communion during an inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square before an estimated 150,000 pilgrims, presidents, patriarchs and princes. Leo officially opened his pontificate by taking his first popemobile tour through the piazza, a rite of passage that has become synonymous with the papacy's global reach and mediatic draw. The 69-year-old Augustinian missionary smiled and waved from the back of the truck, but didn't appear to stop to kiss babies and the crowd. During the Mass, Leo appeared to choke up when the two potent symbols of the papacy were placed on him — the pallium woolen stole over his shoulders and the fisherman's ring on his finger — as if the weight of responsibility of leading the 1.4-billion strong church had just sunk in. He turned his hand to look at the ring and seal and then clasped his hands in front of him in prayer. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, one of the last foreign officials to see Pope Francis before he died, led the U.S. delegation honoring the Chicago-born Leo after paying his respects at the Argentine pope's tomb upon arriving in Rome late Saturday. The theme of Leo's papacy In his homily, Leo said he wanted to be a servant to the faithful through the two dimensions of the papacy, love and unity, so that the church could be a force for peace in the world. 'I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,' he said. 'In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalises the poorest.' His call for unity was significant, given the polarization in the Catholic Church in the United States and beyond. Francis' radical 12-year pontificate, which emphasized care for the poor and marginalized and disdain for the capitalist economic system, often alienated conservatives and traditionalists. Leo's May 8 election, after a remarkably quick 24-hour conclave, has appeared at the outset to have pleased conservative Catholics who seem to appreciate his more disciplined, traditional style and Augustinian background, emphasizing core truths of Catholic doctrine. 'Let us build a church founded on God's love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made restless by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity,' Leo said, referencing some of the themes of Francis' pontificate as well. At the end of the Mass, Leo expressed hope for negotiations to bring a 'just and lasting peace' in Ukraine and offered prayers for the people of Gaza — children, families and elderly who are 'reduced to hunger,' he said. Leo made no mention of hostages taken by Hamas from southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as Francis usually did when praying for Gaza.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store