Pope John Paul arrived in New Delhi, India, Feb 1, 1986 for a 10-days, 14-city visit. "My purpose in coming to India has both religious and human dimension. I come to pay a pastoral visit to the Catholics of India and I come in friendship with a deep desire to pay honour to all your people and to your different cultures' the Pope said. To some 20,000 Catholics, at his first Mass in India, Feb 1 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, the Pope said he expected them to bear witness to their beliefs and to "bring the good news of salvation to all people in a way they can understand." From Delhi the Pope continued his visit to the rest of India covering 20,000 km in nine days and visiting 13 cities.
Catholics India