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.