Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão Calls for Peace, Unity and Constitutional Accountability in New Year Message

Goa, December 31, 2025: As the nation prepares to welcome the New Year 2026, Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, extended New Year greetings while expressing serious concern over growing insecurity among minority communities in India.

In his New Year message Cardinal Ferrão conveyed his prayers and blessings for the people of Goa and the nation. “As is my custom, I wish to take the opportunity at the dawning of another year to wish all our readers, particularly from Goa, a New Year full of the Almighty’s blessings in their lives and endeavours,” he said. He prayed “for the gifts of peace to our families, harmony to our communities and unity to our State and our Nation.”

While greeting the faithful, the Archbishop voiced “deep anguish” over recent incidents affecting minority communities, particularly Christians. Referring to attacks reported during Christmas celebrations in various parts of the country, he said these incidents were “a painful testimony” to the growing sense of insecurity. According to him, such acts “vitiate the moral fabric of our Nation, which has traditionally been peace-loving and encouraging of its diverse cultures, religions and traditions.”

Cardinal Ferrão noted that these incidents not only cause pain to Christian communities but also undermine the foundational values of the country. He described them as being “in blatant disregard for the sacred values India has always stood for.”

Highlighting constitutional guarantees, the Archbishop expressed grave concern that despite the Constitution of India mandating “free and fair expression of the practice of one’s religion,” some communities are persecuted for celebrating their most important religious festivals. He further observed that this often happens “with the tacit approval of the authorities.”

Looking ahead to the New Year, Cardinal Ferrão made a strong appeal to authorities at all levels. “As we venture into the Year 2026, we appeal to the concerned authorities at all levels, to own their constitutional responsibility and moral accountability and to act decisively, and impartially,” he stated. He stressed the need to bring perpetrators to justice in order to restore public confidence in “the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution of our great Nation.”

The Archbishop also called upon citizens to actively promote unity and harmony. He urged “the overwhelming majority of our fellow countrymen — who continue to stand for harmony, justice and mutual respect — to join hands to counter the divisive forces and uphold the unity of our Nation.”

Concluding his message, Cardinal Ferrão invoked God’s blessings upon the country, saying, “God bless our Country!”

By Br. Malvino Alfonso OCD