Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, November 4, held a meeting with senior bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church in New Delhi.
The delegation was led by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, and included Archbishop Dr Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of the Faridabad Archdiocese, along with other senior bishops representing the Church.
“Had a wonderful interaction with the head of the Syro-Malabar Church, Major Archbishop His Beatitude Most Rev. Mar Raphael Thattil, His Grace Archbishop Dr. Kuriakose Bharanikulangara and others,” the Prime Minister wrote on X after the meeting.
The meeting was described as cordial and constructive. During the discussions, the bishops raised concerns related to the welfare of Christian minorities, micro-minority rights, and community development. The Prime Minister listened attentively and assured the delegation that the government remains open to addressing all issues.
“I am always at your service,” Modi told the Church leaders.
The delegation also submitted a request to the Prime Minister to invite the Pope to visit India. Sources said the proposal was received positively, and the bishops expressed appreciation for the government’s outreach.
Kerala BJP leaders, including State President and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and party leader Shone George, attended the meeting. Chandrasekhar described the interaction as a courtesy call.
“We do not see things through a religious prism. Our party serves all people, and the rule of law will always prevail. The BJP is, and will remain, a party of service,” Chandrasekhar said.
He added that the BJP’s approach is one of inclusivity and governance beyond religious lines.
The Prime Minister appreciated the Church’s contributions to education, healthcare, and social service. The bishops expressed hope for continued cooperation in areas of education, social welfare, and community engagement.
The Syro-Malabar Church is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. The Catholic Church in Kerala has three rites: the Syro-Malabar rite, the Syro-Malankara rite, and the Latin rite, introduced by French and Portuguese colonists. The Syro-Malabar Church is the largest among the three Eastern Catholic Churches in Kerala that owe allegiance to the Pope.
The Church traces its origins to St Thomas the Apostle, who is believed to have evangelised India between 42 and 72 AD. Over centuries, the Church maintained ties with the Church of the East in the Persian Empire and follows the East Syriac liturgical tradition. It evolved through significant historical phases, including the Synod of Diamper in 1599 and the Coonan Cross Oath in 1653, which divided the St Thomas Christian community.
Those loyal to the Roman Catholic Church became the Syro-Malabar Church, while others aligned with the Antiochian jurisdiction and adopted the West Syriac liturgical tradition. A smaller faction of the Orthodox Syrian Malankara Church entered communion with Rome in 1930, forming the Syro-Malankara Church, which follows the West Syriac rite.
