Archbishop of Bombay, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, has delivered a compelling Christmas message, urging the inclusion of “different gender orientations” in the annual message to the community. In alignment with Pope Francis’ call for synodality, the Archbishop emphasized the significance of walking together as a community of believers.
“The first session of the Synod of Bishops recently concluded in Rome. The synodal path has everything to do with the message of Christmas.
On the first Christmas Day, our Lord came into the world to walk with us and to encourage all to walk together in harmony. Synodality simply means walking together. Jesus’ coming on earth makes us one family,” expressed Cardinal Gracias.
Reflecting on the spirit of Christmas, he highlighted the familial gathering from around the world, where unity, quality time, and strengthened bonds take precedence. “In the family, no one is excluded—weaknesses, differences of opinion, or inability to contribute do not lead to exclusion. Synodality implies unity, harmony, peace. There are no strangers in the land, and there are no outsiders. None is excluded, not even people with different gender orientations. Our baptism into one faith in God gets us connected,” the Archbishop affirmed.
Christmas, according to Cardinal Gracias, carries a call to mission, emphasizing Christ’s mission to bring back sinners, not to expel them from the family.
He called for embracing the festive season as an opportunity to forget past hurts and differences, fostering unity and overcoming disagreements.
In an earlier inter-religious Christmas celebration, the Archbishop participated in a diverse gathering that included Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians.
The event’s theme, ‘Christmas: God’s message to give peace a chance,’ emphasized the need for unity in the face of contemporary religious hostility fueled by political considerations. Cardinal Gracias alluded to God’s humility, as manifest in Baby Jesus, during the celebration, underscoring the universal message of peace and reconciliation.
