The support aligns with the Pope's consistent stance as a peacemaker since his election last May
NEW DELHI — The All India Catholic Union (AICU), the largest national confederation of Catholic laity in Asia, fully supports Pope Leo XIV’s impassioned appeal for an immediate end to the devastating war in West Asia involving the United States, Israel, Iran and Lebanon.
“We unequivocally endorse the call for a ceasefire, dialogue, and the restoration of peace in the Middle East. The Pope’s voice, rooted in the Gospel of peace and compassion, resonates as a moral imperative for all humanity in these turbulent times,” Er. Elias Vas, the National President of the 107-year-old AICU said in a statement on Tuesday.
The AICU’s support aligns with the Pope’s consistent stance as a peacemaker since his election on May 8, 2025.
The war’s repercussions, the AICU said, ripple across the globe, affecting energy markets, global trade through disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, food security, and economic stability everywhere, including in India.
“War-mongers must heed the global chorus of voices demanding peace – from religious leaders, civil society, and ordinary citizens,” the group said.
While the world’s attention is gripped by this international crisis, the AICU said it cannot overlook the “insidious attempts within our own country to reshape the landscape of religious freedom and erode the federal structure of our secular democracy.”
These moves, it said, veiled under the guise of regulation or development, risk undermining the hard-won rights of minorities, particularly Christians who form an integral part of India’s diverse tapestry.
“The weaponisation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) continues unabated. The recent FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 has exposed the government’s intent to grab Church-run schools, hospitals, orphanages, and development organisations that serve millions, irrespective of caste or creed,” the AICU said.
The group has consistently argued that such amendments conflict with Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of conscience and the right to manage religious affairs.
The AICU reiterated its demand for the complete withdrawal of these amendments and written assurances against any future usurpation of Church assets. Secondly, the discourse around establishing a ‘National Christian Welfare Board’ or ‘Christian Development Board’, coupled with proposals for ‘micro-minority’ status for Christians, is particularly concerning, it said.
“While ostensibly aimed at addressing community issues, such initiatives threaten to be the death knell for the unified mass movements that Christians have championed for decades,” the AICU said.
Fragmenting Christians into ‘micro-minorities’ would weaken collective advocacy for justice and equality. Similarly, it endangers efforts to preserve Adivasi identities and rights, support fishermen, boatmen, and coastal and hill populations in regions like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Northeast, where Christianity has deep roots intertwined with local cultures, the AICU noted.
