The archbishop of Calcutta, Thomas D’ Souza, with chief minister Mamata Banerjee at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary on Portuguese Church Street, in Burrabazar, on Christmas Eve. A feeling for one another and a feeling that everyone belongs to one humanity is what the world needs, the archbishop said in his Christmas message on Thursday.

“We need peace, we need love, we need unity, we need brotherhood, sisterhood, we need compassion and a feeling for one another and a feeling that we all belong to one humanity,” the archbishop said.

Calcutta police commissioner Anuj Sharma and Trinamul’s Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’ Brien were also present.

The traditional Midnight Mass was brought forward in Roman Catholic churches because of the pandemic. At the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary, the Mass started at 7.30pm. “But that does not take away the spirit of Christmas in any way,” the archbishop said.