India, new archbishop of wounded Manipur calls for 'lasting solutions'

Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Linus Neli to lead the archdiocese of Imphal, which has been shaken for months by ethnic violence that has already caused 200 deaths. The new archbishop tells AsiaNews: "We pray for a peace that is not just cosmetic, strong in a hope that has its root in God. We will remain close to the refugees who still suffer in the camps'.

Imphal (AsiaNews) - In India, Pope Francis yesterday appointed a new archbishop for Imphal, the archdiocese of Manipur, the Indian state which has been heavily shaken by violence between its ethnic groups since the beginning of May.

He is Msgr. Linus Neli, 66 years old, a priest originally from this same local Church, who was called to take up the baton of Msgr. Dominic Lumon.

The former archbishop has been a voice for reconcilliation in these very difficult months for Manipur dirng which Meitei (the majority group, predominantly Hindu) and the Kuki (the mostly Christian minority who live in the villages on the hills) have been involved in violenet conflict.

The Kuki see their survival threatened by the choices of the local government led by the Hindu nationalists of the BJP on land management.

So far the conflict has already caused around 200 deaths, according to official estimates, probably lower than the real number of victims.

Monsignor Lumon - who turned 75 and had led this local Church since 2006 - leaves the leadership of the archdiocese having reached the age limit. To Msgr. Neli will now have the task of carrying out this mission in a troubled area where Catholics number around 100 thousand out of almost 3 million inhabitants.

Born in 1957, priest since 1984, the new archbishop has already held important positions in the Indian Church: he was associate rector at the St. John's Medical College Hospital in Bangalore, vicar general of the archdiocese of Imphal and then for two years national director of Caritas. He was currently director of the Archdiocesan Retreat Center and judicial vicar of the Imphal Metropolitan Court.

“The Church needs pastors and someone must take on this responsibility to continue the apostolic mission – said Msgr. Neli to AsiaNews commenting on his appointment. We find ourselves facing this special challenge caused by the social crisis linked to ethnic violence," – he added.

"We pray for peace and wait for the moment when lasting solutions can be reached. Not a cosmetic peace, but lasting answers for the people here but also for the federal state. To be a strong nation, all of India needs each of its states to be healthy, peaceful and prosperous. Let us pray for this together with all other religious leaders because together we can get out of this moment. And our hope is rooted not in merely psychological optimism, but in God."

Archbishop emeritus Msgr. Lumon, explained to AsiaNews that  he will remain in Imphal, continuing to give his contribution to the assistance work promoted by the local Church among the hundreds of refugees still displaced, especially in the villages on the hills.

“The work continues because the people are still in refugee camps - Msgr. Lumon told AsiaNews a few days ago.

"In the suburbs, tensions remain high, essential goods are not arriving: there is a lot of suffering. As a Catholic community we have various teams that try to provide help, but it is like a drop in the ocean. This is why it is urgent to quickly start a process of dialogue."

The new bishop Msgr. Neli chose as his motto the words of the Gospel of the Transfiguration: “Listen to him”.

“Listening to the voice of the Spirit, the Word of God. God speaks to us in many ways, sometimes in silence, other times in our active life. By listening to young people and the people of God, we too are a synodal Church on the move. And listening to the voice of God and the needs of the people today in Imphal is more necessary than ever."

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