(September 4, 2008) A Home Ministry official visited Vatican Pro Nuncio to India
Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana in New Delhi on Wednesday affirming that India was
capable of dealing with the continuing anti-Christian violence in Orissa. The Indian
government strongly condemned the recent attacks on Christians but as a "flourishing
democracy," India was capable of dealing with the situation, he reportedly told the
archbishop. The official visited the Vatican representative in India after the Vatican
issued a statement expressing concern over the attacks on Christians and others as
a "sin against God and humanity." The Vatican representative others from the Holy
See mission in New Delhi had met Indian officials last week expressing same concerns.
Also mounting the pressure on India, the Italian foreign ministry on Monday had called
the Indian ambassador in Rome Arif S. Khan to its headquarters to express its "deep
concern and sensitivity" on the recent attacks on Christians in Orissa. Italian foreign
ministry in its website said during the officials meeting Italy has expressed “deep
concern and sensitivity regarding” the recurrent episodes of inter-religious violence
in the Indian state of Orissa.” The statement said Italy appreciates "the well- established
practices of peaceful co-existence that have marked India's modern democracy and,
under these dramatic circumstances.” The Italian government reportedly wants France,
which has the current chair of the European Union, to raise the issue of attacks on
Christians in India in its meet later this month.