A Catholic bishop serving tribal communities in India has warned that development must not come at the expense of Indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups, saying Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical calls for progress rooted in human dignity rather than profit or technological advancement alone.
Bishop Vijayakumar Rayarala of Srikakulam said many tribal communities continue to be left behind even as society undergoes rapid economic and technological transformation.
“As a missionary bishop serving in the Diocese of Srikakulam, I have personally seen how tribal and marginalized communities are frequently excluded from the benefits of development while carrying many of its burdens,” he said.
The bishop, who chairs the Office for Social Communication of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), made the remarks in an interview published by the National Social Communications Centre (NESCOM) as part of a series examining the relevance of Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas for the Church and society in India.
Drawing on his ministry among hill tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh, Bishop Vijayakumar said the encyclical offers a powerful response to realities faced by Indigenous peoples who continue to struggle with poverty, displacement, inadequate health care, limited educational opportunities, unemployment, and poor connectivity.
“Magnifica Humanitas speaks powerfully to these realities by reminding us that human dignity is not determined by economic productivity, technological access, or social status, but by the fact that every person is created in the image of God,” he said.
He said the Church must challenge notions of progress that measure human worth through economic success, social standing, or digital visibility while overlooking people on the margins.
“In India today, human dignity is often threatened when people are judged only by economic success, social status, or digital visibility, while the poor, migrants, unemployed youth, and marginalized communities are pushed aside,” he said.
The bishop also pointed to continuing discrimination based on caste, labor exploitation, religious intolerance, and social exclusion as threats to human dignity in contemporary India.
While acknowledging the opportunities presented by technological innovation, he cautioned against allowing technology to shape society without ethical safeguards.
He cited Pope Leo’s warning against the “Babel syndrome,” which he said resonates in a context where misinformation, polarization, and social divisions increasingly undermine relationships and social cohesion.
“The Holy Father’s warning against the ‘Babel syndrome’ is very relevant in our context, where misinformation, polarization, and social divisions weaken relationships and create new forms of exclusion,” he said.
Bishop Vijayakumar said the Church has a responsibility to promote truth, dialogue, solidarity, and fraternity, particularly as artificial intelligence and digital communication become more influential in daily life.
At the same time, he said Indigenous communities possess values that wider society would do well to preserve and learn from.
“Mainstream society has much to learn from these communities, particularly their deep respect for nature, strong family bonds, spirit of sharing, and sense of collective responsibility,” he said.
The bishop said Pope Leo’s social vision challenges both governments and citizens to ensure that development serves people rather than sacrificing vulnerable communities in pursuit of economic growth.
“Pope Leo XIV’s call to resist a culture driven solely by profit is especially meaningful in India because true development must protect the dignity, identity, and rights of indigenous peoples rather than leave them behind,” he said.
Looking ahead, Bishop Vijayakumar said the encyclical presents Catholics with a responsibility that extends beyond personal faith into public life.
“For Catholics in India, the enduring challenge is to live their faith not only through personal devotion but also through responsible participation in public life, defending truth, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring that development serves humanity rather than dominates it,” he said.
