Pope Francis maintained close ties with Church in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Pope Francis at the Vatican City. File photo
| Photo Credit: X@NarendraModi

Though Pope Francis’ visit to India nearly materialised in 2017, he did not visit the country, which has a significant Catholic population. But he built a steady relationship with India through the Church leaders here and was involved in pastoral care for the Church. He visited neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2017 and an invitation to visit was extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Pope was expected to visit the country after the Jubilee Year in 2025.

With around 23 million Catholics in the country, around 50% of them in Kerala, the Pope kept a close relationship with the Church in the country, especially in Kerala, where the Syro-Malabar Church has been at the centre of a long simmering dispute over Mass liturgy in the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese. The Pope strived to find a solution and sent out a video message calling for obedience to the synod and adoption of the synod-recommended liturgy. Though his message did not result in reconciliation, he kept a close watch over the affairs of the sui iuris Church with its unique heritage and tradition.

In electoral college

Pope Francis also elevated Catholic priest George Koovakkad of the Syro-Malabar Church to a Cardinal directly from priesthood, a first for the Church in India. The Vatican has also been open and ready to listen to the Syro-Malabar Church on various issues confronting the Church here. Besides, there are four Cardinals from India who will be part of the electoral college which will elect Pope Francis successor.

The number of Cardinals from India is an indication of the importance accorded to the Church in the country by the Vatican.