The Vatican has given a go-ahead to start the beatification process for 35 people who were martyred for their faith during the 2008 anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal in eastern India.
A message from Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli to Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar says the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has granted “no objection” to initiate the process of beatification for the Servant of God Kanteeswar Digal and companions, “martyrs of Kandhamal.”
The letter shared with the media on October 15 was dated October 18.
It says the nuncio is pleased to forward to the archbishop an October 2 letter from the dicastery.
The dicastery was responding to Archbishop Barwa’s May 31 letter requesting the Vatican to consider beatification for the 35.
Archbishop Barwa’s proposal was approved and recommended to the Vatican by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India during its plenary assembly held January 24-30 at Bengaluru.
Rajendra Digal, son of the Servant of God, thanked the Vatican for the permission to start the process of sainthood of his father and others. “It is a proud moment for me that my father died for the faith in Christ. He is the true witness to the whole world of firm faith in God,” he told Matters India. The 35 martyrs are 24 men and 11 women. They are: