Picture courtesy: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-10/pope-francis-india-prime-minister-modi-meeting.html

Respected Dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji

Two decades ago, during the tenure of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Pope John Paul II visited India. Concerns were raised at the time regarding statements made during that visit, including a call for intensified evangelism in India. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-11-08-9911080178-story.html Words such as Crusade were used targeting Hindus. Since then, missionary activity in certain regions has significantly increased. We assume that your intelligence inputs may have made you aware of the broader implications and ongoing developments.

We have always extended our support to your leadership in the belief that the cultural and spiritual ethos of India — particularly Hindu interests — remain secure under your stewardship. In this context, we wish to express certain concerns in light of your invitation to Pope Francis:

a) What could be the implications of this invitation on Hindu-Christian relations in India?
b) Will Indian Christian missions adopt a more respectful stance toward Hindu traditions, or is there a risk of continued assertive proselytization?
c) Would Evangelicals cease the use of Hindu symbols and references in missionary outreach, which is a definition of cultural appropriation?
d) How might this diplomatic gesture influence the perception and roles of government officials and Hindu community leaders, both within India and abroad?
e) Is there a possibility that state resources might inadvertently be utilized to further missionary activities during or after such visits?
f) Has the topic of controversial missionary practices in India been discussed in any way with the Vatican?
g) Has the demographic and cultural uniqueness of India and Nepal as majority-Hindu nations been communicated to the Holy See, given the global Christian majority across nearly 90 countries?
h) Does the invitation reflect a diplomatic overture to Western leaders, and if so, how do we ensure it safeguards national dignity and independence?
i) We recall how leaders like Nelson Mandela engaged the global stage with strength and clarity.
j) Many hope to see you embody the vision and resolve of figures like Mahatma Gandhi or Mandela in defending civilizational values.
k) You are undoubtedly aware of Pope Francis’s apology to Indigenous communities in Canada for historic injustices.

In this light, we respectfully ask: what is the purpose and intended outcome of such apologies if foundational concerns about cultural integrity — especially regarding Hinduism — remain unacknowledged by the Vatican? We trust your leadership will continue to reflect India’s deep-rooted traditions while presenting a strong and principled voice on the global stage. History, after all, holds its greatest lessons in hindsight — and India must lead with clarity, strength, and respect for all cultures.

This link provides a brief synopsis of Un-ethical evangelism in India!