Nirmala Carvalho

For the first time an Indian premier was the guest speaker at an event at the CBCI headquarters in Delhi. He praised Bishop Thazhath's commitment to the country's unity, but also voiced the concerns of Christians who are victims of violence by extremist fringes. Modi expressed sorrow for those who ‘cause unrest in society’ and recalled his invitation to Pope Francis to visit India. Best wishes to Card. Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai, who turns 80 today.

Seven Protestants accused of 'forced conversions' at a house celebration. The Bishop of Lucknow: 'Even obtaining bail is difficult. Nearly 700 incidents of violence against Christians already reported in 2024'. Fr Mathew: "In Chattisgarh, Christians evicted from their villages will spend Christmas Eve without a roof over their heads".

The Bishops' Conference intervenes in the dispute that in Kerala sees the Waqf (the Islamic Property Administration) claiming land where Christian families have lived for decades. The bishops also denounce the spreading of ‘fragmented’ news about a meeting between the president of the CBCI, Msgr Thazhath, and about twenty national parliamentarians, with the risk of ‘creating confusion’.

Msgr. Linus Neli's Christmas message to the faithful in the Indian state rocked by violence. Let us bring flashes of God's peace to the world around us. Yesterday, meanwhile, interreligious prayers were held in Imphal and many other cities in India for the suffrage of the dead and for reconciliation

Another tragedy yesterday claimed seven lives in Dindigul in Tamil Nadu, last month the case of ten newborn babies killed by flames in Utaar Pradesh. At least 11 serious accidents with more than 100 deaths in the last five years. The causes are always the same: poorly designed emergency exits, failure to check the electrical load, carelessness in storing combustible materials. And justice is slow to prosecute those responsible.

The comment was made at an event organised by the ultranationalist Hindu far right. Judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav made similar anti-Muslim comments in the past and recently reiterated his support for a uniform civil code. Opposition parties filed a complaint with the Supreme Court.

38-year-old Pranjal Bhuyan had simply prayed for some of his villagers. Introduced by the local government of the BJP nationalists to ‘protect health’ it is in fact a new tool to target Christians. The man hit by the measure had already come under fire on charges of ‘conversions’ for some free lessons he offered at home to children.

In the State of Nagaland, at the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians recently recognised by the Indian federal government as a national pilgrimage centre, an initiative to praise God through the beauty of creation. Bishop Thoppil: ‘We no longer use plastic flowers in our churches. Now with the commitment of women in the cultivation of fresh flowers this message is reaching everyone'.

A native of the same Indian metropolis, 57 year-old Msgr. John Rodrigues has led the diocese of Pune since last year after serving for ten years as auxiliary bishop to Card. Oswald Gracias, who will turn eighty on 20 December next. As of 25 January, he will be at his side with right of succession. He comes from a family in which the widowed mother accompanied all three of her sons to the priesthood.

Local councils forced about a hundred Christians to leave or renounce their faith. The police did not intervene immediately and at least 40 people were forced to take refuge in churches after their property was destroyed. According to some oraganizations, there has been an increase in violence against the Christian community in this Indian State this year.

The solemn event is repeated every ten years, attracting thousands of pilgrims who pray before the remains of the great evangeliser of Asia. "We are Messengers of the Good News" is the theme of this year’s exhibition, which will continue until 5 January. Accompanied by a human chain of a thousand young people, the urn with the relics travelled from the Basilica of Bom Jesus to the cathedral.

After six bodies were found over the weekend, protesters stormed the homes of local BJP lawmakers. The Union government is sending thousands of special forces, while the Union Home Affairs minister tries to resolve the situation peacefully. For the archbishop emeritus of Imphal, the government is “only watching".