portal

congregation

p.m.s.

urban college

urban web site

fides

holy see

HOME ITALIANO ESPAÑOL ENGLISH FRANÇAIS PORTUGUÉS DEUTSCH CHINESE

Gospel Saints Papal Teaching Congregation Pontifical Mission Societies Urban University Mission texts Animation Statistics From the Holy See Testimonies Martyrology Jubilee 2000 Church life Missionaries Religious institutes Movements & Associations Catholic universities Culture History Art Cinema / Photo Radio & tv Music Poetry Health Technology Geography News 360° Dossier In-depth study Interviews Stories Book review Children’s corner		" That Christians in India may no longer be prevented from openly professing their faith and proclaiming the Gospel" Card. Ivan Dias, Archbishop of Bombay comments the Pope's mission intention for July 2002 Bombay (Fides Service) - For two thousand years there have been followers of Jesus Christ in India and today they are 18 million. Moreover in this mainly Hindu country, Christians, a tiny minority amidst a population of 1 billion (Christians 2.3%, Catholics 1,8%), have contributed greatly to the development of education and social service and the promotion of excluded groups of citizens and this Christian witness of life and service leads many people to the faith. India has always been a country open to all faiths. However five years ago Hindu fundamentalist extremist militant groups began a campaign to make India into an all Hindu state, like Pakistan is a Muslim state. Minority groups, Christians in particular, are subjected to persecution, oppression, Christian missionaries and local Church personnel have been killed. So-called anti-conversion laws in effect in several states have had a restrictive effect on pastoral ministry and social service. In three Indian states the local police must be informed when there is a conversion to ascertain whether it is a freely made decision. At present the Supreme Court is discussing minority rights. We are confident that a decision will be reached which will guarantee the secular tradition of this great nation and that citizens of all faiths will be able to live in harmony. The Christian faith reached the shores of this subcontinent in south central Asia in the very early days. In fact long standing tradition credits the Apostles Thomas and Bartholomew with the introduction of the Good News of Jesus Christ in the Kerala area. Evangelization followed the establishment of Portuguese posts and the conquest of Goa in 1510. Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominican, Augustinians were among the religious Orders which figured in the early missionary history. An archdiocese for Goa with two suffragan sees was set up in 1558. In 1886, when the number of Catholics was estimated to be one million, the archdiocese of Bombay was established. Despite persecution, the Church in India flourishes and we have many vocations. The 18 million Catholics are served by 23,000 priests, there are 80,000 women Religious and numerous Indian missionaries in other lands. Christians in India are a small minority but they provide a good part of the services: 20% of all primary education; 10% of instruction for those who cannot read or write, and community healthcare; 25% of assistance to orphans and widows; 30% of assistance to disabled, AIDS patients and lepers. India's Catholics have a great devotion to the Eucharist. In the archdiocese of Bombay for example, 80 of 115 parishes have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament all day. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is also widespread. This year for the Church's traditional World Day of the Sick, on February 11, celebrated as requested by the Pope at Vailankanny, the Lourdes of the East, 40,000 people gathered at the Marian shrine situated on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. On his most recent visit to India in 1999, when he came to promulgate the post synodal exhortation Ecclesia in Asia, Pope John Paul II said, with regard to responsibility for mission, "the first and second millennium belonged to Europe and Africa, now the third millennium belongs to Asia". May the prayers of all Catholic the world accompany India's Christians as they carry on their mission of love. Card. Ivan Dias Cardinal Ivan Dias, was born at Mumbai (India) on April 14, 1936. He was ordained a priest on December 8, 1958 and a Bishop on June 19, 1982. He has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See in various countries, first as councillor and then Apostolic Nuncio. On November 8, 1996 he was transferred to the Archdiocese of Bombay. He was created a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II during the Consistory of February 21, 2001

Palazzo "de Propaganda Fide" - 00120 - Città del Vaticano Tel. +39-06-69880115 - Fax. +39-06-69880107 - e-mail: fides@fides.va © AGENZIA FIDES