“To safeguard human dignity, collective responsibility must be encouraged. The economy must serve the people, and not the other way around… There must be solidarity towards all, especially towards the poor,” the nuncio stressed, indirectly referring to economic inequalities in India. The majority of its 1.43 billion people live in poverty, despite the country’s booming economy.
Referring to the bloody ethnic conflict that persists in the state of Manipur, which borders Myanmar, Girelli, who has served as nuncio to Indonesia, Jerusalem and Palestine, said: “To build peace, the time is attack the root cause (of the conflict) and develop a culture of peace that touches the conscience of the people.
Since May 2023, Manipur has witnessed a violent and prolonged clash between the majority Meiteis, most of whom are Hindus, and the minority Kukis, almost all of whom are Christians, leaving more than 200 people dead. More than 50,000 Kukis and more than 10,000 Meiteis have been driven out of their respective minority areas due to the simmering violence.
As a “concrete suggestion” for the Church, Girelli said that “as the general election approaches, all Christians eligible to vote should be motivated to vote, because it is an important duty.”
When voting, the nuncio said, “one must keep in mind that the representative will respect religious freedom, defend human dignity and promote the democratic process.”
