‘In Canada, the Pope also sent a message to Asia’

The Archbishop Emeritus of Guwahati talks about the words and gestures of Francis among the natives and rereads them in the light of the Indian context. “We cry ‘never again’, but we see new abuses of power against Dalits, minorities and the weakest sectors of society.”

Guwahati () – Pope Francis “gives us an example and makes us reflect”. Although with forms different from those of that colonial past, today “new types of social annihilation and insensitivity” are emerging in our societies that affect minorities and the weakest sectors. He spoke with Monsignor Thomas Menamparampil, Archbishop Emeritus of Guwahati, in the eastern Indian state of Assam, where Christianity has a long history of encounters with local tribal populations. The prelate referred to the words and gestures made in recent days by Pope Francis towards the indigenous peoples of Canada.

Monsignor Menamparampil, from India, how have you experienced Pope Francis’ request for forgiveness to the original peoples of Canada?

“It was really moving that, despite his state of health, Pope Francis felt it was a priority to carry out this ‘penitential pilgrimage’ to Canada, as he himself called it, to apologize to the indigenous communities for the harshness of many Christians during the colonial era. Certainly, the cruelty shown towards the indigenous communities of America during that period remains one of the most painful and humiliating chapters in the history of humanity. The Pope apologized with ‘deep shame and pain’ on behalf of all that we have been insensitive to the suffering of weaker people and communities in various contexts to this day. It gives us a thought-provoking example.”

“We must admire the communities that have learned to be self-critical. We shout ‘Never again’, but in situations close to us, we notice the same harshness towards Dalits, minorities and the weakest. New forms of extreme poverty emerge, new types of social annihilation that take crueler forms, new styles of callousness. These things are no longer done in the name of colonial conquests or imperial interests, but to achieve economic results or to emerge victorious in trade wars. From time to time, we must once again bow our heads in expression of ‘deep shame and pain.’”

Do you think that, even in India, the Catholic Church has yet to take steps to embrace the lifestyle, traditions and spirituality of the tribal people?

“In colonial times, the tribal communities of eastern India were more fortunate than elsewhere. The imperial authorities tried to protect their lands from the dominant groups, thus helping them preserve their culture and traditions. Some colonial officials delved into their culture and wrote books about their way of life, which allowed them to get to know each other better and define their own identity, to which they were very attached. out of their isolation and providing them with an education that would allow them to find a new place in the world without weakening their identity.However, unfortunately, today they suffer from “culture of opportunism”, the pressures of the dominant groups in an unhealthy political climate.All this could undermine their traditional sense of community, solidarity and social responsibility It will be a great challenge for the Church to persuade go to the most perceptive leaders, so that they fight against this danger”.

In Canada, the Pope said that indigenous peoples can teach us a lot about the care and protection of the family. Is this also valid for India today?

“Pope Francis surprisingly speaks of a ‘sapiential wisdom’ of the masses and of believers in general. In keeping with this belief, indigenous communities around the world have something to teach societies that consider themselves to be more advanced. example, the sense of community, equality, truthfulness, family values, social solidarity, openness to fraternal correction, respect for nature.These peoples seem to hear more clearly the cry of mother earth against the consumerist excesses of our society.Indigenous communities, in particular, who do not have behind them centuries of conflicts of interests between sophisticated societies, are willing to bear witness to the genuine human values ​​of sincerity, authenticity, mutual understanding and industrious solidarity. so that this voice of the Pope is not lost among the dominant social philosophies that resonate in the world today”.