Goa Archbishop voices concern over 'intolerance'

Panaji, Dec 24: Voicing concern over the "increasing dose of intolerance" holding sway over the lives of people, Archbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao today called for better understanding, reconciliation and peace as enshrined in the message of Christmas.

"Sadly we find an increasing dose of intolerance holding sway in our lives. Not only people of different creeds and cultures, but people of the same family drift away from each other because of this intolerance and unforgivingness," Ferrao said in his Christmas message released today.

Citing the 'Year of Mercy' declared by Pope Francis, he called for prayers for "more understanding, more mercy, more reconciliation and peace."

Spiritual leader of over three lakh Catholics in the coastal state, Ferrao said, "We are in the year of the family and very recently our Pope Francis inaugurated the year of mercy."

"Let us pray for all families as well as for various social and religious communities. Let there be more understanding, more mercy more reconciliation and peace," he said.

"If the Holy Babe lies helpless in the crib, we feel encouraged to approach him with the situations of unrest in the world, in our country and in our state... We pray that the Babe of Bethlehem, the Prophet of Peace, may encourage us all to promote dialogue and reconciliation and to sustain our efforts to build peace," the Archbishop added.

PTI