Mumbai (AsiaNews/CBCI) Speaking about India and the role of the Catholic Church in the country, Card Telesphore Placidus Toppo, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, said that "there is no country in the world which is as diverse and yet as tolerant as India. All of us together have to make India a model to the world." He spoke today just after getting back to India after a trip to Europe during which he met the Pope and European leaders,
The many acts of violence against Christians and other minorities run up against the idea of India as a tolerant country. But for the Cardinal, "such attacks have no place in a democracy. Unfortunately, ideology is behind many of the attacks on minorities."
"One must not forget," he pointed out, "that there are fundamentalists and fanatics in all countries and in all religions. India is no exception. One should not be surprised or be deterred by it. We have to face the challenge with our deeper commitment to faith and civilised behaviour."
In saying so, he tried to allay the fears of those who see India gripped by a vast campaign of persecution against minorities.
Focus, in his opinion, should be on the Catholic Church in India, which, with its different ritual expressions and cultural multiplicities, "truly reflects the diversity of" the country.
"With its harmonious living and common action, the Catholic church in India should be able to contribute to projecting India as a model to the world," he said.
Prompted by a question, Cardinal Toppowho is the first Tribal to reach such a top position warmly recalled his audience with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican and stated: "The new Pope believes in decentralisation and has already delegated the Cardinals to preside over beatification ceremonies. He has put into focus the need for greater effort for Christian unity and better relationships with people of other religions."
The Cardinal eventually talked about his participation in the upcoming World Youth Day that is scheduled for August 16-22 in Cologne (Germany).
"During my audience with the late Pope John Paul II last October, he asked me, 'Are you not coming for the World Youth Day?' And I said 'I will'. Indeed I am looking forward to participate in the event of the world's youth coming together to celebrate their faith, solidarity and commitment to evangelisation."
The Cardinal recalled the late Pontiff's exhortation to the young "to be courageous in following Jesus and in witnessing the love of God as it poured onto to us through Christ Jesus."