ASIA/NEPAL - Apostolic Administrator: "Young people's are saying 'We care' and it's a positive thing"

Kathmandu (Agenzia Fides) - "The situation is currently relatively calm, with no demonstrators on the streets. Schools have reopened, both public and Catholic, and life is proceeding quite smoothly. People have placed their trust in Sushila Karki, the new Prime Minister, who will lead a transitional government for about six months until new elections next year. Of course, we are still in a period of uncertainty and latent tension," Father Silas Bogati, Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of Nepal, told Fides after the wave of protests that has shaken the country since September 8. "We as a Catholic community," he affirms, "also have confidence in Sushila Karki, who, among other things, in the past, when she was still a lawyer, defended one of our priests and some religious sisters who had been wrongly accused in several court cases." "We have a good opinion of her and trust in her work in the coming months to act in accordance with the rule of law and the democratic principles of justice and legality," he emphasized. Regarding the immediate future, the Apostolic Administrator noted: "It seems that in the coming days, the political parties that have dominated the scene in recent years will also want to take to the streets and hold popular demonstrations. We hope this will not lead to further violence." During this period in the country's history, he noted, "a youth movement, the so-called 'Generation Z,' has emerged and caused a stir: These young people, who are now constantly active on social media, have a deep consciousness and feel responsible for the development and progress of the nation. They perceive this as a duty, a necessary obligation, and this is certainly positive." The entire movement is based on "the awareness of saying: 'We care,' it is important to us, we care about our future and the future of the nation," notes Father Bogati, therefore "it should be seen as a good and beneficial phenomenon for the nation, as long as it remains on the path of peace and justice." At this stage, concludes Father Bogati, who is responsible for a small community of approximately 8,000 believers among a population of 33 million, "the position of the Catholic Church in Nepal is clear: We say 'no' to any form of violence and work for a peaceful development of the situation, hoping for a good government that can effectively combat one of the scourges afflicting the country: corruption." Meanwhile, the country will observe a national day of mourning on September 17 for the victims of the recent unrest. The interim government has declared those who lost their lives during the demonstrations "martyrs" and pledged aid and compensation to their families. A total of 72 young people died as a result of police repression during last week's street protests. Hundreds of the injured are still in various hospitals. The new Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, visited many of them in Kathmandu Hospital, sending a clear public message about her political stance and approach. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 16/9/2025)

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politics

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youth

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civil society

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human rights

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justice

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legality

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