ASIA/INDIA - A priest : "Development and education, priorities for the future of India"

Friday, 9 May 2014

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - As we approach May 16, when the results of the general election will be made known, Fr. Faustine Lobo, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in India, in an interview with Fides Agencies talks about the priorities for the country: "The new government will have the task to take care of development, communication, infrastructure, education.
These elements - he explains - are also priorities for the work of evangelization: the development and well-being of the person are part of those basic needs that are necessary in order to announce the salvation of Christ. For this reason the Church in India is very involved and present in social activity and education".
Fr. Lobe is attending the General Assembly of the PMS and testimonies the happiness and appreciation of the Indian Church with regards to Pope Francis: "He is testifying to really be on the side of the poor. He has changed the image of the Church in the world. He has also changed the style of how to be a priest and Pastor in India: his example of life is dragging many priests".
The Director, who is a theologian and political analyst, is not pessimistic about the future of the country, even if the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leader Narendra Modi", he explains - cannot obtain an absolute majority and therefore will have to form a coalition government. The other parties could impose the condition that Modi cannot be the Prime Minister. So other more moderate leaders of the BJP could play an important role".
In fact, he continues, "the BJP is also internally divided and political maneuvering tactics may favor other candidates of the same party". The presence of many parties on a regional basis contributes to making the picture very complex. Fr. Lobo notes, however, "the failure of the Congress Party, involved in several corruption scandals and unable to revive the economic fortunes of the country. For this reason, the Congress Party has burned the trust that had been earned and the electorate punished him". "I do not think that India will change in the next five years, becoming a nationalist and intolerant state, I do not think that the agenda of Hindu extremist groups may have the better", he concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 09/05/2014)


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