There have been prayers for catholic priests in India.

On Friday christians celebrated the feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Archdiocese of Bombay celebrated a World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount in the Bandra area in Mumbai.

It was part of the Global Rosary Relay for the Sanctification of Priests which was launched back in 2009 by Marion Mulhall, founder of the World Priest Global Apostolate.Speaking to Crux about the event, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, said the Global Rosary brought everyone together “praying for our priests.”

“It is a sign from all over the world as a gratitude for what the priests are doing and also an appreciation of their work and an assurance that everybody is with them and works with them and is praying that they be faithful, committed, and dedicated to their responsibilities."

“It began some years back and I remember, it was different cathedrals all over the world. I felt that since so many people come to the basilica it would be nice to shift this rosary from the cathedral to the basilica," he added.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount is currently undergoing restoration and was adorned with flowers and lights for the prayers.

Approximately 1.1 billion hindus live in India but the country also has 20 million catholics.