Catholic Church in India

The Latest

Indian Catholics bishops pray at the closing of the their Feb. 7, 2024, conference.

Indian Church to observe ‘day of prayer and fasting’ amid growing religious polarization

Feb 12, 2024

By Anto Akkara

The Catholic Church in India has called for observing March 22 as a “day of prayer and fasting for peace... Read more

Father Dominic Pinto, of the Diocese of Lucknow in India, (cathedral school of Lucknow pictured above) was arrested for violation of the state's anti-conversion law.

Amid arrests of Indian priests and nun, bishop calls for ‘storming of heaven’

Feb 9, 2024

By Anto Akkara

Eleven out of India’s 28 states have passed laws to criminalize forced conversions but, in practice, they have been used... Read more

A man tends to his goats in a village in Kerala, India.

Half a million Catholics in India petition government for better living conditions

Feb 6, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Christians make up about 20% of the local population in Kerala, with the Christian community there tracing its ancient roots... Read more

The 36th biennial assembly of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), with over 180 bishops in attendance, got underway in Bangalore on Jan. 31, 2024.

Violence against Christians in India addressed at Catholic bishops’ conference

Feb 1, 2024

By Anto Akkara

“The Church can play a crucial role in shaping the moral character of the society,” said Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the... Read more

Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil, the new archbishop of the divided Syro-Malabar Church in India, has been well received by the faithful and civic leaders alike, but there is no sign that the differences over the liturgy that have split his Church are close to being resolved.

New leader of Syro-Malabar Church faces daunting task as dissenting priests remain defiant

Jan 31, 2024

By Anto Akkara

Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil has his work cut out for him as he seeks to carry out the Holy Father’s... Read more

Janada Marcus, 22, was forced to flee Boko Haram with her family twice before the terrorists attacked them again, killing her father and kidnapping her.

New online database tracks attacks against Christians in real time

Jan 9, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

The “Violent Incidents Database,” launched by Global Christian Relief on Jan. 5, tracks attacks on Christians and people of faith... Read more

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts a Christmas gathering with Christian leaders, including Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai and Delhi Archbishop Anil Couto, at his residence in New Delhi on Dec. 25, 2023.

India’s Modi hosts Christian leaders for Christmas amid rising persecution

Dec 29, 2023

By Anto Akkara

“Christmas is an occasion to remember Jesus Christ’s life’s message and values,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, addressing Christian leaders. Read more

More than 4,000 faithful attended the celebration of the Christmas Mass at the St. George Parish in the suburb of Edappally, India.

Papal Christmas deadline over Syro-Malabar rift is met, but Indian archdiocese simmers

Dec 28, 2023

By Anto Akkara

Protests and disruptions to “unified” Masses mandated by the pope were observed around the archdiocese, but it remains if there... Read more

Bishop Louis Mascarenhas of Allahabad greets Father Babu Francis at the gate of Naini jail in Prayagraj district with a bouquet of flowers.

Indian priest jailed under ‘anti-conversion’ laws is released

Dec 22, 2023

By Anto Akkara

Father Babu Francis was detained by the police on Oct. 1 after he sought information on the arrest and detention... Read more

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

Dissenting priests in Syro-Malabar Church protest Pope Francis’ Christmas deadline 

Dec 20, 2023

By Anto Akkara

Tensions have risen in the Eastern Catholic Church in the Indian state of Kerala as the deadline approaches to implement... Read more

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media on the opening day of the winter session of the Parliament, at Parliament House, New Delhi, India, Dec. 4, 2023.

U.S. religious freedom watchdog urges White House to list India as country of concern

Dec 19, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The USCIRF said it was “alarmed by India’s increased transnational targeting of religious minorities and those advocating on their behalf.” Read more

The offertory at the installation Mass for the new Archbishop of Imphal Archdiocese, Linus Neli, on Dec. 8, 2023..

More than 10,000 Indian Catholics welcome new archbishop in conflict-torn Manipur

Dec 11, 2023

By Anto Akkara

More than 10,000 Catholics from across the state of Manipur attended the Dec. 8 installation of the new archbishop of... Read more

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

Indian Cardinal Telesphore Toppo arrives for a meeting of pre-conclave on March 9, 2013, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis remembers Cardinal Toppo of India for ‘zeal for the spread of the Gospel’

Oct 6, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Cardinal Telesphore Toppo was the “first and only cardinal of the tribal communities of Asia,” said Archbishop Andrews Thazhath. 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

U.S. President Joe Biden and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi pay respect at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Raj Ghat on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi on Sept. 10, 2023.

India’s Modi government invites Christian rights watchdog to discuss concerns 

Sep 15, 2023

By Anto Akkara

The head of the Christian human rights group had written to the prime minister’s office about three major grievances. Read more