Bishop Paul Swaroop Leads Special Prayer as PM Modi Attends Christmas Service in Delhi

8 hours ago

In a special Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of Redemption in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the congregation for prayers and carols. The service was led by the Bishop of Delhi, Paul Swaroop, who offered a special prayer for the Prime Minister, asking for a ‘double portion of wisdom’ to lead the nation. Speaking about the visit, Bishop Swaroop clarified that the Prime Minister ‘did not speak’ but ‘came to pray’ for the community and the country. The Bishop also addressed the reported criticism from a Kerala Archbishop regarding the PM's outreach, stating that while issues exist, ‘today is not the day’ to raise them. The transcript also highlights PM Modi's consistent engagement with the Christian community, referencing his attendance at Easter 2023 celebrations and a dinner at Minister George Kurian's residence in 2024.

Transcript

00:00The Prime Minister attends Christmas Bash. That's our next top story.

00:05Prime Minister Modi attended the Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of Redemption in Delhi,

00:11along with a large congregation of Christians of Delhi and North India.

00:14The service included prayers, carols, hymns and a special prayer for the Prime Minister

00:19by the Right Reverend Paul Swaroop, the Bishop of Delhi.

00:23Over the last few years, the Prime Minister has been regularly attending programs

00:27that have connected with the Christian community.

00:30In Easter 2023, he attended an Easter program at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi.

00:36During Christmas 2023, he hosted a program at his residence at 7 local Yadmak, Delhi.

00:42And in 24, he attended a dinner at Minister George Kurian's residence

00:47and a program hosted by the CBCI.

00:50This demonstrates Prime Minister's regular engagement with the Christian community.

00:54Father, we still our hearts before you on this Christmas morning.

01:04We give you thanks for the gift of your only Son, Jesus, who came as a Savior to save us from our sins,

01:15to give us a hope, the hope of life here in this world, life abundant and life eternal in the world to come.

01:27Lord, we thank you for sending your Son as the Prince of Peace.

01:35And Lord, we pray for your peace in our world.

01:40This morning, we pray particularly for our Honourable Prime Minister, Sri Narendra Modi-ji,

01:47that you would anoint him afresh with your Holy Spirit.

01:52Empower him, Lord.

01:55Father, we know that those whom you call, you also equip.

02:01And we know, Lord, that you have called him for this important task of leading our great nation.

02:07And so, Father, I pray for a double portion of your wisdom, your understanding, your discernment,

02:16that he would lead this nation in the paths of truth, of justice, of righteousness.

02:23And Lord, that you would bless him.

02:26Amen.

02:27He did not speak.

02:29He came to pray.

02:30And so, he participated in a normal Christmas service.

02:35Nothing out of the ordinary.

02:36It was the liturgy that we follow every Christmas.

02:41So, that was what he came.

02:42He came to pray, basically.

02:44Pray for our community.

02:45Pray for the nation.

02:47And we also prayed for him as the Prime Minister of the country.

02:51But meanwhile, a Kerala Archbishop has slammed Prime Minister Modi's outreach to Christians.

02:58Let's listen in to what he had to say.

03:00Let's listen in to what he has to say.

03:25But while the Kerala Archbishop

03:55has criticised the Prime Minister, Delhi's Bishop Paul Swaroop responded to the Cardinal

04:01and said that attacks are happening but today is not the day to raise those issues.

04:08Let's listen into what the Bishop of Delhi had to say.

04:13At one side you are praying for the peace and wellness of people.

04:17On the other side we have seen some sort of statements coming in from the Archbishop of Kerala

04:22where he is saying that the Prime Minister is going to celebrate Christmas

04:24but on the other side some attacks are taking place on the Christian community.

04:28How do you see this statement coming?

04:30See, it is a fact that these things are happening

04:33but I think today is not the day that we need to raise those issues.

04:37You know, there is a time and a place when those issues need to be addressed.

04:41I am not denying that.

04:42But today is a day of celebration.

04:45So I think we will address those issues as and when it has to be.

04:48So it will be addressed, you are sure that the government is going to...

04:51We have already been addressing several forums.

04:54So as in man we have to address these issues, we will.

Bishop Paul Swaroop Leads Special Prayer as PM Modi Attends Christmas Service in Delhi

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