- 23 December, 2025
Bangalore, Dec 23, 2025: Calling on religious leaders of all faiths to provide moral leadership amid growing social polarisation, Bishop Joseph Susainathan, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bangalore and Chairman of the Commission for Dialogue and Ecumenism of the Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops Council (KRCBC), spoke at the Multi-Faith Celebration of Christmas and New Year 2026.
The event was organised by the Indian Social Institute and the Ashirvad Centre for Inter-Religious Dialogue at the Ashirvad Centre, Bengaluru, on Monday, 22 December 2025. While delivering his Christmas message, Bishop Susainathan said that the birth of Christ reminded us of a profound truth that peace is born not through force, but through humility; not through domination, but through love. He stated that diverse faith traditions have played a vital role in shaping the moral and spiritual conscience of our nation and every faith teaches, in its own sacred language, that compassion is stronger than hatred, that service is greater than power, and that the human person is never a means, but always an end.
He pointed out that the various faith traditions in India calls us to justice, mercy, equality, compassion, inner freedom, peace, love and selfless service which can form a powerful moral force for good. Therefore, he emphasised that in the context of growing polarization, rising intolerance, violence in the name of identity, and indifference toward the poor and the vulnerable, it is the sacred and urgent responsibility of religious leaders to provide moral leadership with words that heal rather than divide, and for actions that unite rather than exclude. He hoped that such inter-religious celebrations strengthen the resolve of religious leaders of all faiths to walk together, to speak together, and to work together for peace in our neighbourhoods, justice in our society, and harmony in our nation.
Earlier, Fr. Selvaraj Arulnathan SJ, Director of Indian Social Institute, highlighted the significance of Christmas and the need for people of all faiths to live in harmony, while Mr. Gokulmuthu Narayanaswamy from the Ramakrishna Mission stressed that there is a need to revisit the authentic life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth rather than the institutionalisation of his message through rituals and doctrines.
Voices from different faith traditions underscored shared spiritual values and the spirit of fellowship during the celebration. Mr. Ahsan Jaffri, a Sufi scholar, reflected on the life and message of Jesus that had personally inspired him, while Mr. Dinesh Rao of the Baha’i community spoke of the joy he experienced in the sense of fellowship fostered by the Christmas season. From the Sikh tradition, Mr. Jagbir Singh Dhody described Christmas as a time of joy meant to be shared generously with others. Venerable Bhikku Ratnashila of the Mahabodhi Society drew attention to the Buddhist teaching of loving kindness, highlighting the common ethical ground shared by Buddhism and Christianity.
The interfaith messages were complemented by cultural expressions that reinforced the theme of inclusion and shared celebration. Visually impaired girl students presented an invocation dance, setting a reflective tone for the gathering. Students of St. Joseph’s University and the Sisters of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master added to the festive atmosphere through Christmas carols, while children from the Spandana Study Centres of Ashirvad contributed dance performances, bringing colour and vitality to the celebration.
Fr. Denzil Fernandes SJ, Head of the Department of Peace and Reconciliation at Indian Social Institute, moderated the entire Christmas celebration, while Fr. Arun Luis SJ, Director of Ashirvad, felicitated the leaders of different faiths and thanked all the people from different faiths for participating in this multi-faith Christmas programme.
Fr. Denzil Fernandes SJ
Head of the Department of Peace and Reconciliation
Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru.
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