Nuncio in Kandhamal: ‘Like the first Christians, firm in the faith’
Archbishop Girelli's visit among the communities that were victims in 2008 of the most serious violence against Christians in India's recent history. "Happy and moved to find myself here praying before the memorial of the martyrs. Witnesses of peace, harmony, faith and love'. A letter to Pope Francis to include Fr Bernard Digal among the martyrs of the 21st century.
Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) - The Assembly of the Latin Rite Bishops of India, held these days in Bhubaneswar in Orisssa, was the occasion for a visit by the Apostolic Nuncio Monsignor Leopoldo Girelli to the district of Kandhamal, the place that has become the symbol of the violence suffered by Christians in 2008 in this Indian state.
Accompanied by the archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Msgr. John Barwa, his secretary Fr. Mrutyunjaya Digal and some other priests, the nuncio visited three localities: Raikia, Tiangia and Nandagiri.
Celebrating Mass in the parish of Our Lady of Charity, in Raikia, the nuncio expressed his joy at the faith witnessed by the faithful: there were almost 1,500 children, youth and adults present, along with 30 priests and 25 religious.
‘You are like the first Christian community that remained steadfast in its faith,’ the nuncio said in his homily. “You have become an example for millions of Christians on how to persevere even in suffering”.
The prelate visited the Martyrs' Memorial in Tiangia, a Catholic village that saw seven Christians killed during the violence. ‘I am happy and moved to be here praying in front of the Martyrs' Memorial. Yours is a village of peace, harmony, faith and love,’ he commented.
‘The nuncio was given a letter to be delivered to Pope Francis asking him to include the name of Fr Bernard Digal in the list of 21st century martyrs who will be remembered during the Jubilee,’ Fr Mrutyunjaya Digal, a priest from Beticola, a parish where Christians have been unable to return, told AsiaNews.
The nuncio also visited Nandagiri, the village where the 82 families driven out of that village have moved. ‘The nuncio told us that it is the pope's wish to be here with us,’ Fr Mrutyunjaya recounted.
To the children of the Vijay High School in Raikia, Msgr Girelli also said: ‘Today I am here with you on behalf of the Holy Father and we are here together to pray and to commit ourselves so that we can be a community of peace, harmony and love. This is the message we have learnt from Jesus and we want to put it into practice in this place'.
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