As tensions escalate in the aftermath of a deadly attack that killed 26 Indian tourists, the small Catholic community in Jammu and Kashmir has intensified its call for peace and reconciliation in the conflict-ridden region.
“The Catholic faithful of Kashmir are praying incessantly for peace in Kashmir. They pray in churches and homes. And they are marching the streets alongside other people of good will, carrying lit torches to shine the light of God and the flame of reconciliation and peace,” said Bishop Ivan Pereira of Jammu-Srinagar in an interview with the Vatican’s Fides News Agency.
The attack, carried out on April 22 by alleged Pakistani extremist groups, has reignited political tensions between India and Pakistan—nuclear-armed neighbors that have fought three wars over the disputed territory since 1947.
With a population of about 13 million, Jammu and Kashmir remains the only Indian state with a Muslim majority. Catholics, numbering roughly 9,000, form a tiny minority.
“We are experiencing a moment of tension and fear that is affecting the entire population,” the bishop said. He noted that ceasefire violations have been reported along the border, and that, based on widespread accounts, Indian police have demolished several houses linked to militants and terrorists.
He acknowledged that the situation remains difficult, with many residents once again confronting the trauma of conflict.
Bishop Pereira condemned the April 22 attack as “a serious and cowardly attack on the sanctity of life, perpetrated against innocent people who were enjoying their vacation. It was terrible. We are convinced that justice must be done, and we believe that the government will work even harder to dismantle terrorist organizations.”
He also denounced efforts to undermine peace and strain relations between India and Pakistan, emphasizing the Catholic community’s continued mission to foster peace, harmony, and brotherhood, while upholding the dignity of every person, regardless of culture or religion.
Christian institutions have played a longstanding role in fostering unity in the region, particularly through education. The Catholic Institute of the Church of the Holy Family in Srinagar, founded in 1893, is one of around 40 Catholic schools in Jammu and Kashmir. These institutions serve mostly Muslim students and promote Christian values of peace and social harmony.
“Our community,” Bishop Pereira said, “is celebrating this jubilee of hope and placing its hope in God’s work. Today, therefore, at this truly special time, we feel in full communion with the universal Church, which is praying for and electing the new successor of Peter through the work of the cardinals. In this troubled region, we are and feel ourselves to be part of the one Church. This spiritual communion gives us the strength to move forward.”
