Without Hindus, India would not have Christians: Card. Designate Baselios Thottunkal

October 30, 2012: "I am grateful to our Hindu brothers and sisters, because they supported and protected us. If they had not been by our side, we Christians would never have survived here in India.” said Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Church and the new Cardinal-designate. In an interview to AsiaNews, when asked about his views of the situation of religious freedom in India, and how he would explain the growing radicalization in the country, he said: ‘Religious radicalism "belongs to all faiths and every person" and is "a sign of selfishness," to be fought “within ourselves."
When asked about his new role, he said that ‘it is a great honor for our country, for several reasons. First, because ours is a nation that places great value on religious life and human life. Because all the different formulations of faith, and Christianity, live together in India. And despite being a minority, the Holy See recognizes the importance of the Church in India: the beatification of Mother Teresa says as much. [This appointment] is also an honor and a special recognition to the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, which has found full communion with the Holy See of Rome in 1930.
When asked about a synopsis of the Synod of bishops just concluded, he said: the Synod is over: the propositions were made, voted on and submitted to the Pope, who now will correct them, edit them, and then present them to the whole world and the Church. As for me, I think that the Synod has gone very well, because all the different parts of the Church have had the opportunity to walk together as the universal Church. We continue to have different rituals or ideas, but we think in a single way about the universality of the Church. This is the beauty of the Synod, and this aspect of lived communion with 262 Synod Fathers has been exemplary and inspiring, added Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal.