India

Led by Archbishop Oswald Gracias, the initiative at Holy Name High School in Colaba is linked to the Prime Minister Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign to honour mothers and promote care for the environment. For Card Gracias, it is important to “encourage our youth and everybody else also to be conscious of the need to care for creation”.

Four hours of "ritualistic sanitation" are needed to cleanse a historic Hindu temple visited by millions of pilgrims every year after lab tests found traces of animal fats in laddu sold to devotees to be presented as offerings. The recently elected chief minister, a BJP ally, blames his predecessor for the problem. The latter writes to PM Modi to slam his successor and call for an independent investigation.

The two candidates favoured in the polls hold opposite positions towards Sri Lanka’s Indian neighbour, sometimes seen as a cumbersome presence in the island nation’s domestic politics. India is worried instead about China’s growing influence, but, given the current environment in South Asia, it will likely work with whoever comes to power.

They are accused of promising miraculous cures for diseases, exploiting superstitions widespread among Dalits and the poor. The events allegedly took place in the house of Pastor Achhe Lal, in the village of Pakhrauli. A local source: it was a normal Sunday liturgy. Fr Anand Mathew of Varanasi: ‘Arrests are an almost daily occurrence. Wrong if Catholics on Protestants say: it is only their problem'.

About 2.3 million voters cast their ballots for 24 of the 90 members of the Legislative Assembly. The poll is the first since the region’s special status was repealed in 2019. The turnout should be high, but results are expected to show a fragmented political landscape.

The leader of the Aam Admy Party - a member of the opposition to Modi, who was released from prison by the Supreme Court after his arrest last March over the excise scandal - has resigned as head of the local government in the Indian capital, appointing another member of his party to succeed him. However, he wants to bring forward the administrative vote to November in order to obtain a ‘certificate of honesty’ from the citizens of Delhi and return to the leadership of the executive.

At a public commemoration, the governor attacked the educational work carried out under British rule, claiming that it sought to “destroy India’s identity". In its reply, the local Bishops' Conference described the governor’s remarks as a “gross distortion of history” and a “divisive rhetoric” that undermines India’s unity.

After the acquisition of the Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania, the group controlled by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani is in talks with the Kenyan government to lease the capital’s airport for 30 years. Fearing job redundancies, workers are opposed to the move. Meanwhile, the Indian conglomerate is getting involved Kenya’s energy sector. Back in India, an inquiry into its alleged share price manipulation is still ongoing.

Some 115 schoolbooks and other textbooks are available to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE). The tomes were officially unveiled by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (Latin rite). For Cardinal Ferrão, “Education is a primary mission of the Church in India.”

The initiative in response to the latest case of the killing of a baby girl. It was reported by the child's grandfather, who was suspicious of the explanation for the death given by his daughter. Catholic doctor applauds initiative: ‘urgent’ to promote ‘value and dignity’ of women from conception.

For almost a month, Kolkata has been shaken by protests and rallies, initially organised by feminist groups. In recent weeks, however, the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken advantage of widespread dissatisfaction to call for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation.

The Archbishop of Mumbai, Asia's representative in the Council of Cardinals, called to lead the commission wanted by Pope Francis to address the issue of relations between the papal representatives and the local Churches, one of the topics that emerged from the synod consultation. The group will present its conclusions by June 2025.