Indian Churches united in prayer as intolerance rises
India is celebrating the Week of Christian Unity from 18 to 25 January. As religious intolerance and hate speech rises, especially in states governed by the BJP, ecumenism is becoming a concrete sign of solidarity. Celebrations were held in Karnataka, with the faithful of various denominations participating.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which began on 18 January and will culminate with the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on 25 January, is celebrated by all Churches in India, at various levels: parish, deanery, and diocesan.
In the face of growing intolerance towards the Christian faith and the rise of hate speech, this sign of real and widespread unity across the country is of the utmost importance. Indeed, the sign that Christians are united as one body is essential, as there are forces seeking to divide them and create rifts between the Churches.
This is made clear in a report by the India Hate Lab, which shows an increase in hate speech towards Christians and Muslims, with 88 per cent of incidents recorded in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Still, in November 2025, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju praised the activities of the Catholic Church, stating that it "does not convert. Catholics do not engage in religious conversion. The Catholic community renders remarkable service in various fields, and people have accepted it wholeheartedly.”
Father Anthoniraj Thumma, secretary of the Office for Dialogue and Ecumenism of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), spoke to AsiaNews about the matter.
“Systematic organised persecution, escalating attacks, planned intrusions by extremists, and their conspiracy to prevent the celebration of Christmas have awakened the Churches in India from their complacency,” he said.
“It is high time they come together to express their solidarity to each other and to safeguard the constitutional rights of freedom of religion and expression,” he added.
Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, president of the Office, who is well known as a profound thinker, a committed ecumenist, and a unifying voice, also spoke to AsiaNews. “We show solidarity with the Churches, and stand together. We have made appeals to the various chief ministers and the central government for protection of the Christian community,” he said.
On 18 January, prayers for Christian unity were held in the Diocese of Shimoga, Karnataka. In Shimoga, an ecumenical service was held at the Church of South India (CSI) Church of St Thomas. Bishop Stany D'Souza, delegate of the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Shimoga, attended the service, along with nuns and pastors from Shimoga and about a hundred faithful from both the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Shivamoga and the parish.
The Diocese of Mangalore also celebrated unity on 18 January. On this occasion, Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha issued a message.
In it he writes: “I would like to remind everyone about the historical event whereby Pope Leo XIV and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, signed a joint declaration in Istanbul (ancient Constantinople) on 29 November 2025, reaffirming their commitment to Christian unity and urging global peace efforts, in the context of 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.”
He goes on to say: “On the occasion of the Ecumenical Sunday, I encourage you to organise common celebration together with the Christians of other Churches and denominations in your vicinity. This is an opportunity to meet the brethren of other Christian communities and to appreciate their love for the Word of God and their zeal for the Christian life.”
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