A Covid-19 patient receives treatment at a makeshift open-air clinic in Mewla village, UP, India.
By Robin Gomes
May 18 2021
As India continues to reel under the unrelenting waves of Covid-19 infections, averaging 4,000 deaths each day, the virus is also taking a heavy toll on the country’s Catholic priests.
Some 160 Catholic priests have died from Covid-19 in the past 5 weeks, or an average of 4 each day. The alarming news comes from Capuchin priest Father Suresh Mathew, editor of the Church-run Indian Currents magazine. He has compiled a list of at least 160 diocesan and religious priests, who died between April 10 to May 17.
With 3 bishops, the toll goes up to 146. Retired Archbishop Antony Anandarayar of Pondicherry-Cuddalore and Bishop Basil Bhuriya of Jhabua died on May 5 and 6 respectively. Retired Bishop Joseph Pastor Neelankavil of Sagar of the Syro-Malabar rite, died on February 17, this year.
Of the 160, more than 60 are from religious orders, with Jesuits topping the list with 24 deaths. According to Fr. Mathew, the list is incomplete as many deaths in the second wave of the pandemic have not been reported from all of the country’s 174 dioceses.
4 priests dying a day
“Even this initial list is very alarming, as we have only some 30,000 Catholic priests and if four die daily, it is a matter of great concern for all of us,” he explained.
The list of deceased priests includes religious and diocesan priests of the Catholic Church of India which comprises the Latin-rite Church and the two eastern-rites, the Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankara Churches.
Since mid-April, India has been reporting more than 300,000 new cases daily, with hospitals in acute shortage of beds, oxygen and vital medicines. Sick people have filled hospital corridors and compounds, while many have died inside ambulances waiting outside hospitals seeking medical attention.
Crematoriums and burial grounds have been overwhelmed with huge numbers of dead bodies lining up. The situation has become even more heart-rending with images of numerous bodies floating in, as many poor people unable to bear the expenses of paying their last respects to their loved ones are dumping them into the rivers. – Vatican News
