National

Assault on 2 Catholic priests in India sparks outrage‍

More than 1,000 Christians protested in front of the Jabalpur district police head-quarters in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on April 1, seeking action against assailants who attacked two Catholic priests and harassed some pilgrims earlier this week. The protesters also urged the admini

Indian nun-principal denies ‘conversion’ charge by student

A Catholic nun-principal of a nursing college in the central Indian Chhattisgarh state has denied as “false and baseless” the charges of trying to convert a female student. Police on April 6 registered a case of “attempted forced conversion” against Sister Bincy Joseph, principal of Holy Cross Nursing College at Kunkuri in the state’s Jashpur […]

Calicut Elevated as Archdiocese; Bishop Varghese Named First Archbishop

In a historic decision, Pope Francis has elevated the Diocese of Calicut to a Metropolitan Arch-diocese on 12 April 2025, also names Bishop Varghese Chakka-lakal (72) as the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Calicut. The dio-ceses of Kannur and Sultanpet will serve as their suffragans. The diocese of Calicut in Malabar region has a deep-rooted legacy […]

Burial refusal forces Christians to become Hindus in eastern India

Four members of a Christian family have been forced to become Hindus to bury the head of their family in a Hindu-majority tribal village in eastern India’s Odisha state, relatives said. Hindus at Siunaguda village in Nabarangpur district refused to bury Kesab Santa, 70, in the village burial ground unless the family members converted to […]

Indian Capuchin donates body for medical studies

The Capuchin Catholic religious order in India has donated the body of a member priest for medical research and studies, following the rare wish of the dead priest. Capuchin Father Xavier Vadakkekara, a former editor of the Catholic newsweekly Indian Currents, died in New Delhi at 72 on March 16. His body was handed over […]

Churches in Asia urged to save earth for future generations

The president of the Asian bishops’ body has urged churches in the continent to safeguard the earth for future generations, stressing the need to “rise to the moment with courage and determination.” “Across Asia, we see creation groaning under the weight of human indifference, abuse, and exploitation,” said Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, president of the […]

Father Sahaya Thatheus Appointed Bishop of Simla- Chandigarh

Bishop Ignatius Mascarenhas Retires After 16 Years of Episcopal Ministry