- 30-year Missionary Analyzes Papal Trip to India
- Statistics of One Billion Inhabitants of Subcontinent
- The Catholic Church in India
- Pope Takes New Step In Dialogue With Orthodox Church
- Georgia's Statistics and The Catholic Church
"WE EXPECT MORE LIGHT SHED ON THE COMPLEX ISSUE OF RELIGIONS IN ASIA
30-year Missionary Analyzes Papal Trip to India
ROME, NOV 5 (ZENIT).- Based on 30 years of missionary experience, in an interview with the Italian newspaper "Avvenire," Fr. Carlo Torriani, a PIME missionary in India, attempted to analyze the atmosphere the Holy Father will meet during his visit to New Delhi.
Fr. Torriani mentioned that the Pope is very aware that it is not easy to proclaim Jesus Christ in Asia. Initially, he thought of several places to visit: Hong Kong became impossible. "The fact that he didn't choose the Philippines, the only country with a Christian majority, says much about the Pope's courage. The two giants in Asia are China and India: this is where matters must be addressed."
The Pope is being received in India, by a recently elected Prime Minister, considered the moderate mask of a Hindu nationalist party that, according to experts, has a "secret agency" to extend the majority religion to the whole country. The fundamentalists acted against the Muslims first, who are the most consistent minority (120 million); now they have begun to attack Christians, who comprise 2.3% of the population. They have even infiltrated indigenous groups to oblige them to adopt their religion.
"The Pope is arriving at a moment when the ideological temperature is high, and the government is in the hands of Hindu militants. The Prime Minister, and the Ministers of the Interior, Education, Media and Sports are all members of the RSS -- a body of nationalist volunteers." Extremists have not missed the opportunity to challenge the Pope. They demand that he ask forgiveness for the Inquisition in Goa, that he state all religions are equal, and that conversions to Christianity be stopped.
"The post-synodal exhortation and the Pope's speeches in Delhi might shed more light on the complex matter of religions in the Asian continent and in India. At least this is what is hoped for," Fr. Torriani said.
The veteran missionary said the Indian government "seems a bit nervous. On one hand, it wants to give a good impression abroad, following the negative repercussions in the media of the persecution against Christians, which took place last January. On the other hand, are its followers, the different Hindu extremist groups that organized a protest march from Goa to Delhi, which was stopped at the border of the Madhya Pradesh state, governed by the Congress Party."
For his part, the spokesman of the Ministry of the Interior has given assurances that the Pope will be received with the respect and honor that correspond to a head of State. "But this is precisely what irritates the Hindu extremists," Fr. Torriani said. "They oppose ... a religious leader being received as a head of State, allowing him to carry out 'propaganda' for his own religion. To give a better idea of the atmosphere, it has even been said that the Pope's visit is a victory for those who want to convert the whole of India ..."
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INDIA'S SOUL: THE NUMBERS SPEAK
Statistics of One Billion Inhabitants of Subcontinent
VATICAN CITY, NOV 4 (ZENIT).- John Paul II is visiting a country of one billion inhabitants, 2% of whom are Catholic. The following statistics, provided by the international agency "Fides," reflect the hopes and challenges of India.
Area: 3,166,414 sq. km.
Population: 918,570,000 (2.1%)
Languages: Hindi (official), English and 17 dialects recognized by the Constitution.
Religions: Hindu (83%), Muslim (11.2%), Christians (2%, about 17 million), Sikh (1.89%), Buddhist (0.7%), small Jewish and animist groups.
Capital: New Delhi
Government: Republic
Economy (1996): Gross Product ($319,660 million); annual growth (6.8%), inflation (5.5%); foreign debt ($93,800 million); income per capita ($1,500); trading partners: European Union, United States and Asia.
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN INDIA
Catholics: 16,016,000 (1.71%)
Patriarchate: 1 (Titular of East Indies); 1 Major Syro-Malabar Archdiocese
Ecclesiastical Circumscriptions: 135 18 Archdioceses of Latin Rite; 91 Dioceses of Latin Rite; Major Archdiocese of Eastern Rite; 4 Archdioceses of Eastern Rite; 21 Dioceses of Eastern Rite.
23 Archdioceses; 109 Dioceses; 7,247 parishes; 3 Cardinals; 1 Patriarch; 144 Bishops; 16,593 Priests (9,655 Diocesan; 6, 938 Religious); 2,671 Brothers; 73,030 Sisters; 9,525 Seminarians; 40,673 Catechists.
Rites: Latin (16 Archdioceses; 98 Dioceses); Syro-Malabar (2 Archdioceses, 21 Dioceses, 3 million members); Syro-Malankara (1 Archdiocese, 3 Dioceses, 300,000 members).
Bishops Conference: Since 1987, each rite has its own Conference
Papal Visits: Paul VI in 1964; John Paul II in 1986
Long-standing tradition credits the Apostle Thomas with the introduction of Christianity in Kerala in 52 A.D.
Evangelization followed the establishment of Portuguese posts and the conquest of Goa in 1510. Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians and members of other religious orders contributed to the early missionary effort.
The Archdiocese of Goa, and two suffragan sees, were set up in 1558. Five provincial councils were held between 1567 and 1606. The number of Catholics in 1572 was estimated to be 280,000. This figure rose to 800,000 in 1700, and declined to 500,000 in 1800.
Missionaries had some difficulty with the British East India Co., which exercised virtual government control from 1757 to 1858. There was trouble when conflict developed between policies of the Portuguese government, which pressed its rights of patronage in Episcopal and clerical appointments, and the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, which sought greater freedom of action in the appointments. This struggle ended in the schism of Goa between 1838 and 1857.
In 1886, when the number of Catholics was estimated at one million, the hierarchy was restored in India and Ceylon. Jesuits contributed greatly to the development of Catholic education from the second half of the 19th century. A large percentage of the Catholic population located around Goa and Kerala and farther south.
The country is predominantly Hindu. So-called anti-conversion laws -- in effect in several states, have had a restrictive effect on pastoral ministry and social service.
Pastoral challenges include ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue.
Source: "Fides" Agency ZE99110407
POPE TAKES NEW STEP IN DIALOGUE WITH ORTHODOX CHURCH
Following Trip to India, John Paul II Will Visit Georgia
VATICAN CITY, NOV 5 (ZENIT).- On November 8, John Paul II will fly from New Delhi to Georgia. After his significant trip to Rumania in May of this year, this will be the second time in history that a Roman Pontiff visits a country with an Orthodox majority.
The Holy Father will be met at the airport in Tiflis, the capital of Georgia, by Eduard Chevernadze, the country's President, who was Mikhail Gorbachev's former Minister of Foreign Affairs. At one time a federal republic of the Soviet Union, Georgia became independent in 1991. According to the 1995 Constitution, at present Georgia is a presidential republic with federal characteristics.
Following independence, Georgia fell into a profound crisis, caused by a civil war that originated in the southern regions of Osetia and Abjazia, which resulted in some 5,000 deaths, the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, and the economic ruin of this state of the Caucasus. For the past two years, the situation has improved. Southern Osetia has been given concessions in economic matters. However, the question of Abjacia's status, a region in the north of the Caucasus that traditionally has been more united to the Russian people, remains unresolved.
Journey of Dialogue The Pope is visiting Georgia in response to an invitation he received from Chevernadze in 1997. The President, who is 71, maintains good relations with the Orthodox Church. In fact, he was baptized by Patriarch Ilja II in 1992. Consequently, the visit is of decisive ecumenical importance. It was made possible thanks to the strong independence of the Georgian Patriarch, who is somewhat distanced from the orbit of influence of the Moscow Patriarchy.
Catholic Presence In this former Soviet Republic of 5.5 million inhabitants, the majority Orthodox, Catholics barely constitute 2% (about 100,000). They have 25 parishes, 10 priests (2 diocesan and 8 religious), 14 Sisters and 2 seminarians. At present, Georgians are trying to find in religion the way to overcome the ideological void that the dissolution of the Soviet system left behind. Little by little, this handful of priests, men and women religious and laity are giving this community renewed impetus. The Catholics include Georgians, Armenians, Germans, Poles and Assyrians. Obviously, to a great extent they depend on the help of Catholics in the rest of the world. For example, the international organization "Aid to the Church in Need," has allocated $620,000 to these communities. In particular, it has supported Caritas, contributed to the construction of a Church in Tiflis, and helped Sisters involved in social work, especially with the homeless. Last year John Paul II donated a hospital for the capital of this country, which was devas! tated by the war.
Agenda The Pope will arrive on the afternoon of November 8. Following the welcome ceremony at the airport, he will meet the Orthodox Patriarch. He will then visit the jewel of Georgian Orthodoxy --the Cathedral of Svetitskhoveli (Living Column) in Mtskheta.
On November 9, in the morning, the Holy Father will bless a Caritas home for the needy. After an open-air Mass, he will visit President Chevernadze in his residence. Later, he will meet with figures of the world of culture and science, before returning to Rome on November 9 in the afternoon.
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GEORGIA'S STATISTICS
Ethnic and Cultural Mosaic of 5.5. Million People
VATICAN CITY, NOV 5 (ZENIT).- John Paul II's visit to Georgia, from November 8-9, is full of meaning, not least because of the extraordinary variety of cultures, religions and ethnic groups he will encounter in this small land. After decades of Soviet domination, at present 65% of Georgians profess Orthodoxy, and 11% Islam.
The country has a surface of 69,700 square kilometers. In a population of 5,460 million, with a density of 78.1 inhabitants per square kilometer, the urban population equals 59%. The fertility rate is 2.10% and life expectancy 72.8 years.
A number of languages are spoken in Georgia, but the most important are Georgian, Russian, Azerbaijan, Hebrew, and Kurdish. Ethnic groups include Georgians (about 70%), Armenians, Russians, Azerbaijanis, Greeks, Jews, Kurds, etc. The principal religion is Christian Orthodoxy, but there are Muslim and Catholic minorities.
The capital of Georgia is Tiflis, and its government is a presidential republic.
In so far as the economy is concerned, the GNP totals $2,358 million. Per capita GNP equals $1,470. The foreign debt amounts to $1,189 million, and the annual rate of growth is 10.5%. Georgia's main suppliers are: the European Union, the Community of Independent States, and the United States. Its clients include Russia, Armenia and the European Union.
The Catholic Church in Georgia According to tradition, the Apostle Andrew brought Christianity to Georgia. Catholics number between 50,000-100,000 faithful. Catholics of the Latin Rite from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are under the Caucasus apostolic administration, established on December 30, 1993. Fr. Giuseppe Pasotto, CSS, is the Apostolic Administrator. The missionaries in Georgia include: 17 priests, 29 religious and 11 seminarians.
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