On November 4, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, met with the leadership of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, including Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, Archbishop Dr. Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, and other senior bishops.
Sharing about the meeting on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister wrote: “Had a wonderful interaction with the head of the Syro-Malabar Church, Major Archbishop His Beatitude Most Rev. Mar Raphael Thattil, His Grace Archbishop Dr. Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, and others.”
The delegation, led by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, included Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of the Archdiocese of Faridabad and several senior prelates representing the Syro-Malabar Church.
According to Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Prime Minister “listened attentively and assured the delegation that the government is open to dialogue on all issues.”
He added, “We do not see things through a religious prism. Our party serves all people, and the rule of law will always prevail. The BJP is, and will remain, a party of service.”
During the meeting, the bishops submitted a formal request to the Prime Minister to invite Pope Leo to visit India, a long-cherished desire of the Catholic community in the country.
The discussion also covered issues related to the welfare of Christian minorities, the promotion of social harmony, and the Church’s contribution to India’s education and development sectors.
The meeting reflects a growing spirit of dialogue and collaboration between the Catholic Church and India’s national leadership, emphasizing a shared commitment to the common good and national unity.
The Syro-Malabar Church, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, traces its origins to St. Thomas the Apostle, who is believed to have evangelized India between 42 and 72 AD. In Kerala, three Catholic Churches owe allegiance to the Pope, with the Syro-Malabar Church being the largest and most influential among them.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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