- 25 May, 2026
May 25, 2026: Three years after ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, thousands remain displaced, communities continue to live in fear and separation, and the journey towards reconciliation remains painfully slow. In an exclusive interview with Catholic Connect, Archbishop Linus Neli speaks candidly about the Church’s humanitarian response, the struggles faced by affected families, and the urgent need for peacebuilding and political resolution in the conflict-hit state. Reflecting on the trauma endured by both communities, the Archbishop highlights the Church’s ongoing efforts to foster healing, solidarity, and hope amid one of the region’s most painful crises.
Manipur has witnessed prolonged periods of tension and unrest. How has this situation affected the life and mission of the Church and what has been its immediate pastoral response?
The violence, described as ethnic violence, broke out on 3 May 2023, and this month marks its third anniversary. It was between the Meitei community, largely Hindus or followers of the indigenous Sanamahi faith, and the Kuki-Zo community, who are tribals and mostly Christians. The Meiteis are not a tribal community but belong to the general category and form the majority population in Manipur.
The conflict arose from issues related to land, identity, and historical tensions. The Church has been deeply affected, just as the wider society in Manipur has. Thousands were displaced, and even after three years, only around 10% have been resettled, while many continue to live in relief camps.
Women, children, livelihoods, education, occupations, and the peace and dignity essential to human rights have been severely affected. Therefore, the Church cannot remain silent or at rest in this situation. It has been actively involved in humanitarian interventions, peacebuilding, and reconciliation efforts, reaching out to all affected communities at a time of immense human suffering.
In the midst of conflict and displacement across Manipur, what are the major struggles faced by the faithful, especially families who have been uprooted or affected by the violence?
Since your question focuses on the Catholic faithful, I am directly concerned with this. They have been displaced, whether they are Meiteis or Kukis. Many are still living in refugee shelter homes and do not have any livelihood. We provide them with material and spiritual support, including counselling and other forms of assistance.
One of the larger concerns being addressed is children’s education, along with support for family livelihood issues, and we are working extensively on this.
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The Church is often called to be an agent of peace and reconciliation. What concrete steps has the archdiocese taken to promote dialogue, healing, and unity among the divided communities?
The two communities remain deeply wounded and badly divided. Even after three years, there are still no signs of forgiveness or reconciliation, and both sides continue in a mode of separation. This makes it very difficult to bring them together. We continue to preach and make efforts to unite them by looking for connecting points, especially through shared human needs — the need for peace, love, tranquility, and serenity. Unless these basic needs of the human spirit are met, people cannot truly rest, and society cannot return to normalcy.
The Church reaches out to all sides and visits both communities. As the leader of the Archdiocese, I am actively involved with interfaith leaders and regularly meet with interfaith forums. These include representatives from the Hindu and Sanamahi majority communities, Catholics, Protestant Christians, as well as Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists.
We come together frequently and bring leaders together. While there is not yet an active dialogue on peace and reconciliation, we are trying to build an atmosphere of coexistence and understanding of common human needs. Women, children, and men — everyone desires peace and a return to normal life. There is a deep longing among the people to return to normalcy, and therefore the Church remains continually engaged in this effort.
How are priests, religious, and lay leaders sustaining their ministry in this challenging situation? And what role does faith play in strengthening resilience among people?
As leaders, priests, religious, and Church leaders, we carry out relief work, especially in meeting material and human needs, and bringing children into safer zones for education. We also seek support to educate them and provide for them.
We extend support to women through counselling, especially for those experiencing trauma, and to children who were born in shelter homes or in forests while families were hiding for safety. Therefore, a great deal of psycho-spiritual and psycho-social counselling is also required.
That is why many interventions have been undertaken together. We call upon agencies, NGOs, churches from outside, different congregations, and dioceses, all of whom bring their support. We then monitor the situation and work together as a team to carry out relief work and respond to this sad situation.
How do priests and Church leaders manage divisions within the Catholic community when different groups are affected by the conflict?
Even among Catholics, some priests and sisters cannot cross over if they belong to one of the warring groups. Therefore, they have to remain on the safer side. Those who are neutral, for example tribals who are not involved, especially priests and nuns from the South, are able to move across more freely.
When we respond to the humanitarian situation, there is no barrier of religion or language. Everyone is in need of humanitarian help, and so we help them in that way.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for the Church’s mission in Manipur? And what message would you like to share with the wider Church community in India regarding solidarity, prayer, and support for the Manipur region?
In the first place, I must place on record, with deep gratitude, my sincere appreciation to all those brothers and sisters, churches, congregations, institutions, and NGOs who have helped us during these times of need and crisis. They have supported us in many ways.
Now we look forward to greater reconciliation and peacebuilding. The path to peace is very important in bringing back normalcy. However, this will not come unless there is a political solution. A political solution is still not forthcoming. Even the government is finding it difficult to restore normalcy because the people are so divided. Communities have political aspirations, ethnic aspirations, and religious aspirations. With all these factors coming together, it is not easy to move towards one goal and one solution.
I think it will take time, and that time is very much required because time heals. Even generations may carry forward unforgiving and irreconcilable attitudes, so time is needed. At the same time, from the side of the government and the civil society organisations, a quick and lasting political solution is still awaited.
By Catholic Connect Reporter
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