Nepal: Catholic Leader Welcomes Transitional Government, Calls for Peace and Justice

Life in Nepal is slowly returning to normal after a wave of violent protests earlier this month. Schools, including Catholic institutions, have reopened, and the streets are calm as the country adjusts to the leadership of new Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who is expected to head a transitional government for six months before elections next year.

Speaking to Fides, Father Silas Bogati, Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of Nepal, said the Catholic community places its trust in the new Prime Minister. “We, as a Catholic community, also have confidence in Sushila Karki, who, in the past, when she was still a lawyer, defended one of our priests and some religious sisters who had been wrongly accused in several court cases. We have a good opinion of her and trust in her work in the coming months to act in accordance with the rule of law and the democratic principles of justice and legality,” he said.

Father Bogati acknowledged, however, that the country remains in a state of uncertainty and latent tension. He noted that political parties may return to the streets in the coming days to hold demonstrations, raising fears of renewed violence. “The position of the Catholic Church in Nepal is clear: We say ‘no’ to any form of violence and work for a peaceful development of the situation, hoping for a good government that can effectively combat one of the scourges afflicting the country: corruption,” he stressed.

The Apostolic Administrator also highlighted the emergence of a strong youth movement, commonly referred to as “Generation Z.” These young people, active on social media, have shown deep social consciousness and a sense of responsibility for the nation’s future. “This movement is based on the awareness of saying, ‘We care.’ It should be seen as a good and beneficial phenomenon for the nation, as long as it remains on the path of peace and justice,” Father Bogati told Fides.

Meanwhile, Nepal will observe a national day of mourning on September 17 for the 72 young people who died during the protests, many of them victims of police repression. Hundreds more remain in hospitals recovering from injuries. Prime Minister Karki has visited the wounded in Kathmandu Hospital, signaling her commitment to justice and reconciliation.

The Catholic community in Nepal, though small, about 8,000 faithful in a nation of 33 million, remains steadfast in its call for peace, justice, and transparent governance.