Syro Malabar Major Archbishop Calls for Unity, Simplicity and Defence of Rights in India

In his first pastoral letter, Mar Raphael Thattil urges the Syro Malabar faithful to uphold Gospel simplicity, defend minority rights, support missionaries, and work for harmony amid challenges facing Christians in India

KOCHI, Kerala (Indian Catholic News) — Mar Raphael Thattil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church, has called on the faithful to live “the dream of simplicity that Jesus had about His Church” and to stand firm in faith and unity amid the challenges Christians face in India.

In his first pastoral letter since assuming office, released from Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad, and read in all parishes on March 10, Archbishop Thattil urged the Church to “care for the poor and the marginalized” and to make simplicity “the guiding light of all our celebrations connected with parish feasts, marriages, ordinations and our constructions.”

Citing Pope Francis’ advice, he wrote: “His Holiness Pope Francis, in his letter confirming my election, asked me to care for the poor and the marginalized. Jesus identified himself with those who were deprived of food, water, clothing, shelter, land of their own, and freedom.”

The Major Archbishop, who was elected in January 2024 during the XXXII Synod of Bishops and confirmed by Pope Francis, expressed gratitude to his predecessor Cardinal George Alencherry, praising his leadership in securing “all-India jurisdiction” for the Church and establishing eparchies in Melbourne (Australia), Mississauga (Canada), and the United Kingdom.

Archbishop Thattil described the Syro Malabar Church’s history as “a miraculous story of Divine interventions,” tracing its origins to St. Thomas the Apostle and recalling its struggle to preserve communion with Rome. “Even though the Syro Malabar Hierarchy was established in 1923,” he said, “all the canonical structures were developed only in 1992 when the Syro Malabar Church was elevated to the Major Archiepiscopal Status.”

Defending minority rights and promoting harmony

The letter struck a strong note on the situation of Christians in India. “We have to be consciously aware of the discrimination that is being experienced by the Christians in Kerala and in India as a whole,” he said. “We have to preserve and protect all the constitutional provisions that guarantee the growth and development of our community as a minority group.”

He also voiced concern for marginalised groups, writing, “Farmers, unorganized labourers and small-scale traders are all neglected in all sectors. As the government is failing to protect the lives of the people in the hilly areas of Kerala, many lives and their hard-earned work are lost on account of the attacks of wild animals.”

Archbishop Thattil called for “organized movements in a democratic way” to address these injustices, and reminded the faithful that “Christians are always the spokespersons of religious harmony,” adding, “We believe that the redemption that was brought about by Jesus is for all. Hence, there is no place for racism or separatism in Christian life.”

Missionaries and youth under pressure

Referring to growing hostility toward Christian mission work, the Major Archbishop warned that “there are organized attempts to drive out our missionaries by levelling baseless allegations and filing court cases against them who work in many undeveloped areas in India.” He urged the faithful to “pray for these missionaries who are being persecuted for the sake of Gospel.”

Archbishop Thattil also addressed the growing migration of youth abroad for education and work, calling for Church coordination to protect them. “There are instances when the expatriates are deceived concerning the type of education or jobs offered to them before leaving India,” he wrote. “We should explore the possibility for the opportunities for higher education and jobs in India itself.”

He highlighted the Church’s responsibility for the faith formation of young people, saying, “The faith formation of the youth and children should be considered the responsibility of the whole Church. Our youth and children must grow in their conviction to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour in their own lives and to profess it before others.”

Healing division and remaining in communion

The letter also referred to the continuing liturgical dispute in the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. “Let us pray fervently and work together to heal this wound in our Church,” he urged. “All are requested to cooperate with [the Pontifical Delegate and Administrator] in their effort to sustain unity in our Church.”

He reminded the faithful that “nobody can step backward from the repeated exhortations given by the Holy Father to implement the decision of the Synod on the uniform mode of celebration. We have to remain in the communion of the Catholic Church by living total docility to the Holy Father.”

Closing with words of hope, Archbishop Thattil urged the faithful to hold fast to faith during adversity: “Even when we pass through adversities, we should have the deep faith that ‘He never withdraws His mercy from us. Although He disciplines us with calamities, He does not forsake His own people’.”

The letter concludes with a call to unity and prayer: “Let us remain in love and unity to give the witness which our time demands from us in communion with the Universal Church and in docility to the Holy Father.”

Source: Pastoral Letter of Mar Raphael Thattil, Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church, issued February 22, 2024.