By Purushottam Nayak
Raikia, Jan 31, 2025: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli on January 31 visited Odisha’s Kandhamal district to show solidarity with the survivors of the 2008 anti-Christian violence.
“I am very happy to be here. You are like the first Christian community who stood firm in their faith despite pain, agony, suffering, and threats to life. The first Christians were ready to sacrifice their lives to witness Christ the way you have shed blood for the Lord,” the nuncio said in his homily during a Mass he offered at the Our Lady of Charity Parish, Raikia, a major town in the district.
About 1,500 Catholics, 30 priests, 25 religious attended the Mass.
The first reading of the Mass encouraged Christians to persevere in love, hope, and faith, even when facing persecution and suffering.
“You have become examples for millions of Christians how to persevere in suffering and persecution. I see the images of the First Christian community in you,” the nuncio said.
Referring to the day’s Gospel reading on the gradual growth of the kingdom of God, the nuncio said, “Your blood is like a small seed which slowly and gradually grows in the kingdom of God. Your sacrificial life contributes to the advancement of His Kingdom.”
More than 100 people were killed and hundreds wounded during the violence that began August 24, 2018, and lasted more than four months. More than 56,000 people had become homeless.
The nuncio’s visit came in the backdrop of the Vatican approving the beatification process for 35 Kandhamal martyrs.
He visited the Memorial of Martyrs at Tiangia, a Catholic village that saw the martyrdom of seven Christians during the violence.
“I am happy to be in your village and moved to pray in front of the martyrs’ memorial. Your village is a village of peace, harmony, faith and love,” the nuncio said after paying homage to the victims.
Father Manoj Kumar Nayak, one of the Kandhamal survivors of Tiangia, said the victims’ family members are consoled, comforted and boosted when the Pope’s representative comes and shares his solidarity with “our pain and agony.”
Father Nayak built the memorial with the support of Bishop Anthonisamy Neethinathan of Chengalpattu, a diocese in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The nuncio also met the victims’ family members.
Benedict Digal, elder brother of Father Bernard Digal who died during the violence, said the nuncio’s presence has spiritually enriched the survivors. “We are encouraged and empowered to follow Christ despite threat and intimidation in our daily life,” he added.
Led by Babula Digal, the president of the Divine Mercy Church Tiangia, the Kandhamal Catholics submitted a memorandum to the nuncio requesting him to include Father Digal’s name in the list of Servants of God. He was the only Catholic priest who was killed in the violence.
The nuncio also visited Nandagiri, a village of 82 families, who were driven out of their original village of Beticola during the violence.
The nuncio told the villagers that the Pope wants to live with them daily. “I feel pain in your rejection but Jesus was also rejected by the people. You are the true witnesses of Christ,” he added.
Anita Pradhan, sister of Dasaratha Pradhan, a Kandhamal victim, told the nuncio that the surviving families are “grateful and thankful to you for recognising 35 victims of Kandhamal as the Servants of God.”
The nuncio earlier attended the opening of the 36th plenary assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India at Bhubaneswar, capital of Odisha, more than 300 km east of Kandhamal.