B’luru: Speak Up About Minority Rights, Urges Apostolic Nuncio Leopoldo Girelli

By Verghese V Joseph –

Bengaluru: The Apostolic Nuncio to India, Most Rev. Leopold Girelli, who is Pope Francis’ ambassador to India, said churches and their authorities should be vocal at the local level about rights of minorities.

The Apostolic Nuncio was speaking to a congregation of priests and members of the Catholic church at a felicitation programme organised by the Archdiocese of Bangalore on Saturday.

In his address, the Vatican Ambassador stressed that “In this kind of struggle, if you want to call it that, we should remember that we are not standing up for just our rights as Catholics. We are standing for all minorities and the rights provided to minorities under the Indian constitution.”

Responding to a question from the audience on the recent attacks on Christians in Karnataka and India, he said, “At the local level, where the challenges are concrete, the local bishop is within his right to stand up and say this is not right or good. He could say that respect should be given to all.” he said.

Citing his diplomatic position, he said he cannot discuss elaborately on the matter. However, at the national level, bodies like the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) can convey to the local and central governments that all citizens should be considered equal as prescribed in the Indian constitution, he added.

At the international level, there can be “intervention” that includes the Pope as the head of the church, he assured. “There are channels that can be opened to convey to the government our request and our points,” he added.

The apostolic nuncio is on a two-day official visit to Bengaluru. This is his first pastoral visit to Bengaluru after assuming office. Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado presided over the event.

The visit of Apostolic Nuncio assumes significance as the church in Karnataka is currently embattled on several fronts – the recent tabling of the Anti-Conversion Bill, attacks on churches, a proposed survey of churches, among other issues.

His Excellency’s two-day visit is marked with the inauguration, blessing and dedication of the new church of St Ignatius near Electronics City and presiding over a solemn Eucharistic adoration followed by a short felicitation programme at Our Lady of Victories Church, Champion Reef, KGF near Bengaluru.