Pope’s address to India’s new ambassador to Holy See, Chitra Narayanan

(May 29, 2009) Pope Benedict on Friday welcomed India’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Ms. Chitra Narayanan, and expressed his deep concern to her for the Christian community that has been facing violence in some parts of the country. The Pope welcomed the Indian ambassador Narayanan along with ambassadors from Mongolia, Benin, New Zealand, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Namibia and Norway. In his message to Chitra Narayanan, the Pope said that as the head of the Catholic Church, he “joins religious and governmental leaders throughout the world who share a common desire that all members of the human family enjoy the freedom to practise religion and engage in civil life without fear of adverse repercussions on account of their beliefs.” “I therefore cannot help but express my deep concern for Christians who have suffered from outbreaks of violence in some areas within your borders,” the Holy Father said, without specifically mentioning the anti-Christian violence that erupted in Orissa state’s Khandamal district after Hindu extremists falsely blamed Christians for the murder of a Hindu leader last August 23rd. Pope Benedict, however, expressed his appreciation “for the country’s efforts to provide the afflicted with shelter and assistance, relief and rehabilitation, as well as for the measures taken to implement criminal investigations and fair judicial processes to resolve these issues.” He appealed “to all to show respect for human dignity by rejecting hatred and renouncing violence in all its forms.” While marvelling at India’s remarkable economic growth in the face the current global financial hardships, Pope Benedict particularly commended the government’s ambitious jobs programme to help the disadvantaged, especially the rural poor. Such programmes, he said, must be implemented in a way that upholds human dignity and repudiates any temptation to favouritism, corruption or fraud. Chitra Narayanan, the 56-year old daughter of former Indian president, K.R. Narayanan, has been India’s ambassador to Norway and Turkey prior to her current post.