Members of Indian Catholic Youth Moment pose for a photograph with Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar in this undated photo. (Photo provided)
India's bishops have chosen five young people, including a Sikh and a Hindu, to join some 300 young people from around the world in a preparatory meeting for the October bishops' synod on young people.
Inderjit Singh from Jalandhar Diocese in Punjab will represent the Sikh religion while Sandeep Pandey from Vasai Diocese in Maharashtra state will represent the Hindu faith at the March 18-24 gathering.
The three others — Percival Holt, Paul Jose and Shilpa are officials of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement, the church's national youth network.
Some 300 young leaders are expected to attend the six-day gathering in Rome to discuss issues affecting youth in the modern world to help bishops understand them and plan pastoral programs accordingly.
The discussions at this meeting "will be summarized in a document and given to the bishops participating" in the October synod, said Bishop Franco Mulakkal, chairman of youth office of the bishops' conference in a Feb. 14 statement.
Pope Francis has dedicated the 15th ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to young people, choosing the theme for the Oct. 3-28 gathering as "Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment."
The synod on youth is in continuation of the synod on the family, Bishop Mulakkal said adding that Pope Francis expects "a movement, a powerful path, a true meeting with the youth and is eager to listen to them and walk with them."