Catholic Church in India

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Cardinal George Alencherry preaches at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam, India, on Palm Sunday 2021.

Pope Francis accepts resignation of head of Syro-Malabar Church, Cardinal Alencherry

Dec 7, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Pope Francis on Thursday accepted the resignation of Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, based in... Read more

Father Caleb Laldawngsanga leads refugees from violence-torn Manipur in the praying of a rosary.

Refugees of ethnic clash in India find open arms in majority-Christian state

Dec 6, 2023

By Anto Akkara

“We are grateful to God [that] we are safe here,” said Mercy Tungdian, who now lives with her three small... Read more

Photos of martyred Christians at a public event in Bhubaneswar in 2010.

Vatican puts 35 Catholic ‘martyrs of Kandhamal’ in India on road to sainthood

Oct 26, 2023

By Anto Akkara

The Christians were killed in the 2008 Christian persecution that took place in the remote jungle district of the eastern... Read more

Journalists gather at the courtyard of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi on Oct. 17, 2023, ahead of India’s top court ruling on same-sex marriages and abortion rights.

Church in India celebrates two recent Supreme Court verdicts 

Oct 19, 2023

By Anto Akkara

The cases, involving abortion rights and gay marriage, came down within the same 24-hour period. Read more

Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo blesses refugee Christians at Barakhama in Kandhamal in January 2008.

Thousands mourn Indian Cardinal Telesphore Toppo at funeral Mass

Oct 11, 2023

By Anto Akkara

Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, Asia’s first tribal cardinal who died on Oct. 4, was remembered for his humility, simplicity, and... Read more

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the his supporters during a political event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the GMIT College Grounds on March 25, 2023, in Davangere, India.

Indian priest who joined Hindu nationalist party relieved of duties by bishop  

Oct 4, 2023

By Anto Akkara

The priest’s action took place at a time of rising persecution of Christians in India. Read more

Kolkata Archbishop Thomas D’Souza gives a message at the tomb of St. Teresa of Kolkata in the Missionaries of Charity motherhouse in Kolkata, India, after a Mass on her feast day, Sept. 5, 2023.

Mother Teresa is ‘teacher of love’ says Kolkata archbishop on anniversary of saint’s death

Sep 6, 2023

By Anto Akkara

The feast of St. Teresa of Kolkata was celebrated by Catholics and non-Catholics alike with Mass, prayers, tributes, and visits... Read more

Christian refugees living among the brush since they were not allowed to return to their native villages after refusing to participate in a "reconversion ritual" in February 2009.

Journalist documents power of forgiveness on anniversary of Christian persecution in India

Sep 6, 2023

By Zoe Romanowsky

Anto Akkara held a recent screening of his sixth film about the killings of Christians in Kandhamal, India, in 2008. Read more

Students and teachers in Hyderabad, India, on Aug. 24, 2023, celebrate the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the south pole of the moon. India on the previous day became the first nation to land a craft near the moon’s south pole.

India’s bishops elated after successful moon landing 

Aug 24, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Catholic bishops in India lauded the touchdown of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, marking mankind’s first successful mission to the moon’s south... Read more

Father Isaac Honsan, pastor of St. Paul's Church, in Imphal, capital of Manipur state, stands in the rubble after the church was set on fire in a recent attack,

On Indian Independence Day, bishops reiterate Christians’ patriotism

Aug 16, 2023

By Anto Akkara

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India also called for “resolving internal challenges with empathy, understanding, and unity.” Read more

A St. Thomas Christian cross at the installation of Mar Joseph Srampickal at Preston North End stadium, England, on Oct. 9, 2016.

Pope Francis appoints delegate to resolve Syro-Malabar liturgical dispute in India

Aug 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The controversy centers on a complex debate about which direction the priest should face when celebrating the liturgy. Read more

Goa, the former Portuguese colony on the west coast of India, was evangelized by St. Francis Xavier whose mortal remains are preserved in the Bom Jesus Cathedral (pictured).

Hindu nationalists demand arrest of Catholic priest in India for saying king was not a god

Aug 9, 2023

By Anto Akkara

Hindu groups had staged demonstrations in front of the police station calling for criminal charges to be brought against Father... Read more

Bishop Franco Mulakkal.

Pope Francis accepts resignation of Indian bishop cleared of rape charge in civil trial

Jun 1, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican did not indicate whether it carried out its own investigation into the accusations against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who... Read more

A statue of Devasahayam Pillai at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Kottar, India.

What you should know about this new Catholic saint from India

May 12, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Devasahayam Pillai will be canonized in St. Peter’s Square on May 15. Read more

Pope Francis addresses bishops of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church at the Vatican on Oct. 3, 2019.

Pope Francis asks opponents of Syro-Malabar uniform liturgy to take ‘painful step’ of accepting change

Apr 4, 2022

By CNA Staff

Protests against the change have included a hunger strike by priests and the burning of effigies of cardinals. Read more

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.

India’s Catholic bishops urged to highlight anti-Christian violence

Jan 24, 2022

By CNA Staff

A letter accused the bishops’ conference of ‘complete silence.’ Read more

Missionaries of Charity house, Calcutta, India.

Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity seek swift fix after Indian government blocks foreign donations

Dec 28, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Supporters of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity reacted with surprise and concern to the Indian government’s ruling that the organization... Read more

A St. Thomas Christian cross at the installation of Mar Joseph Srampickal at Preston North End stadium, England, on Oct. 9, 2016.

Syro-Malabar Catholic Church leaders want a uniform liturgy. Why are they facing resistance?

Dec 8, 2021

By Luke Coppen

Pope Francis has intervened in the decades-long dispute. Read more

A liturgy at St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church, Arakuzha, India.

India’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church to adopt ‘uniform’ liturgy

Aug 30, 2021

By Jose Torres, Jr.

The new liturgy being introduced within India's Syro-Malabar Church will require the celebrant to face the congregation and the tabernacle... Read more

Flag of India.

Report finds hate crimes rising against Indian Christians despite lockdown

Jul 31, 2020

Hate crimes against Christians in India increased by 40% in the first half of 2020 despite a three-month nationwide lockdown,... Read more