This was quite a few years ago. For some consultations I had invitation to the National office of the Conference of Religious India (CRI). Although ordinary members can also be part of it at the lower level, it is a Conference of Provincial Superiors. Therefore, except for a few like me who were invited, all the others were provincial superiors of female or male Religious.

I do not know whether those in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the civil society think that they are the ones who embody the spirit of the Constitution. But, when it comes to the matter of the church, I have felt that the leaders think that they are the ones who are most loyal and faithful to the Church and the Lord. At a moment when such an idea came out in some discussions, out of some inner impulse, I said, 'Perhaps, I feel the opposite'. The organizers asked me why. I had to say, ‘It is often my experience that those in leadership positions get there through some maneuvering. Therefore, I have a feeling that in some likelihood the spirit of Christ may be a bit lacking in them.’

I have don't feel that those who desire positions of authority are power-hungry. Some may be there that way. Even St. Paul writes, “Whoever wants to be a bishop, desires a noble task” (1 Tim. 3:1). A person sincerely believes that he is capable of leading and governing the community effectively and efficiently. He also thinks that he can be a good administrator. James and John of the company of Jesus thought so. When they looked at themselves, they thought they had more capabilities than many others. When Jesus was arrested and taken to the palace of Caiaphas, Peter was able to enter the courtyard only by the recommendation of John. Even though he was Peter’s countryman, he had connections even in Jerusalem. During their travels, it was John who discovers that someone outside their group was performing miracles in the name of Jesus and forbade him to do so. Don’t think that Peter was extra tolerant. It only shows John’s capability. When two women at two occasion looked at his face and said, “You are one of his group,” Peter sweared that he was not. Yet Jesus made Peter the primus. Since the headquarters of Judaism was Jerusalem, we see James, Peter, and John lingering around Jerusalem (James, the brother of the Lord after James was martyred). I think that detaching Peter from Jerusalem and slowly making him to move to Rome, to some extent, was occasioned by Paul’s missionary successes.

It seems me that in many situations, it was not the most efficient ones but the less efficient but co-responsible ones who have been appointed to lead the Church and who have brought about miracles.