Bishop Thomas Mathew Kuttimackal of Indore said Pope Francis’ legacy of compassion and dialogue has positively influenced interfaith relations in Madhya Pradesh, a state often marked by religious tensions.
“What surprised us positively is like a surprise from the Holy Spirit: so many people, so many non-Christians, who spontaneously appreciate Pope Francis as a man of dialogue, welcome, and compassion, have somehow changed their attitude towards us Catholics,” Bishop Kuttimackal told Fides News Agency.
“Many non-Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs came to offer their condolences and express their solidarity,” he added.
The bishop noted that the late pontiff’s approach has contributed to improved coexistence with people of other faiths.
He described this as a meaningful and lasting legacy for the Diocese of Indore—home to 18,000 Catholics in a population of 8 million—and for the broader context of Madhya Pradesh, where interreligious tensions occasionally arise.
Catholics in the Diocese of Indore joined the global Church in mourning Pope Francis, watching the funeral Mass on television and holding local memorial Masses.
“We remember him as a shepherd of dialogue and mercy: our Catholic communities feel a sense of gratitude, also because they see how the Pope’s words and gestures in recent years have touched hearts, even here in our area, which is so far from Rome and which Francis never visited in person,” the bishop said.
Madhya Pradesh, with over 72 million people, has a Christian population of less than 0.3%, well below the national average of 2.3%.
The state is governed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose leaders and affiliated groups have recently intensified their rhetoric against religious conversions.
In March, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav proposed introducing the death penalty for what he called “forced religious conversion of women.”
An anti-conversion law enacted in 2021 already punishes such acts with up to 10 years in prison. Radical Hindu groups often accuse Christians and Muslims of using illicit means, including financial incentives, to convert members of lower-caste tribal communities.
Despite these challenges, Bishop Kuttimackal said the faithful in Indore are observing the Holy Year as “pilgrims of hope,” praying for improved interfaith harmony.
He also highlighted the work of the “Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace,” a local Catholic network committed to humanitarian advocacy and environmental protection.
Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’, the group promotes “integral ecology” by supporting the poor, respecting natural resources, and encouraging sustainable lifestyles.
