CBCI president joins Catholic initiative group to urge G–8 nations to implement UN Millennium Develo

New Delhi – Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, president of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) and archbishop of Ranchi has joined the Catholic initiative group – International Cooperation For Development And Solidarity (CIDSE), to urge the G–8 nations to implement the UN Millennium Development Goals.

CIDSE is an international federation of Catholic development agencies with its headquarters in Brussels. The organization lobbies for poorer nations in matters of poverty alleviation.

CIDSE invited Church leaders from some of the developing courtiers of the world to meet the leaders of the European Union which included German Chancellor Schroeder, urging them to implement the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. Cardinal Toppo was the representative from Asia in the team.

Talking about the details of the visit Cardinal Toppo said, "In the year 2000, the great jubilee year of the birth of Christ, the United Nations pledged a Millennium Development Plan that by 2015 they would halve the poverty in the world by– writing off the debt of poor countries, mobilizing resources for development of poorer counties, incorporating a better trading system and a mutual collaboration between givers and takers."

Elaborating on the issues discussed with the heads of the European countries and its outcome for India and other developing nations he said that CIDSE is working towards a "new evangelization of Europe through a greater sensitivity to the poor of the world."

Speaking about his participation in the International Marian Symposium at Fatima, Portugal the Archbishop of Ranchi Cardinal Toppo declared, "The Cardinals and the Bishops participating in the symposium strongly asserted their belief that Our Lady is 'co–redemptrix', who cooperated closely with Jesus Christ the Saviour."

Furthermore he added that the shrines of Mother Mary "are attracting people from near and far." This according to him is a "positive sign to spread the message of forgiveness and sacrifice which Our Lady symbolizes."