Joaquim Magalhães de Castro
At a time when Nepal is undergoing a period of profound political and social renewal, the Catholic Church looks to the future with confidence. The Catholic community is constantly growing: every year, about one hundred adults are baptized and received into the Catholic Church, bringing the total number of faithful to almost 9,400, who are involved in educational, social and pastoral projects throughout the country. “We see the work of God in our country,” says Father Silas Bogati, Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of Nepal, in an interview with the Fides news agency.
Father Bogati is optimistic about the future of the Church’s presence in the Himalayan nation: with 13 parishes, four of them in the capital Kathmandu and nine in the rest of the country, the faith community may be “small, but very vibrant,” as the cleric observes. “Most of the faithful are practicing Catholics. We have a vibrant parish life, with prayer groups, youth groups, charismatic groups, and Marian devotion movements. Our community is growing, which is a sign of hope for us,” he adds.
Among the most urgent needs of the local church is the expansion of its pastoral infrastructure: “We are still a poor church,” observes the priest. “We lack the resources to build new churches, parish houses, and chapels. There is still much to be done to improve our structures.” On the religious front, Article 26 of the Nepalese Constitution, in force since 2015, guarantees religious freedom. However, a law prohibiting missionary work and giving special attention to religious conversions remains in effect. Father Bogati explains: “Many people spontaneously find their way to our church through schools, social projects, and charitable initiatives. They experience our witness, learn more about our work, and then ask to be baptized.” Observing the current situation in the country, the Apostolic Administrator notes a period of profound political and social change, characterized by the political involvement of new generations returning to political life. “Last year,” observes the Apostolic Administrator, “there was a kind of youth revolution. The so-called Generation Z made its voice heard, demanding, above all, good governance, transparency, and change.” After the elections last March, the country entered a new era. The new government, led by the young politician Balendra Shah, embraced these demands and the desire for change. “There was a strong need for renewal, and today many citizens look with confidence to the new political direction. The government has opted for a style that emphasizes less talk and more action. The challenge will be to reform the country while maintaining balance,” he notes. Currently, there is mutual trust between citizens and institutions: “Young people are full of hope,” says Father Bogati. “After a long time, a head of government has finally emerged who promises to keep his word. People trust him, but it remains to be seen whether he deserves that trust.” It could be said that there is a kind of honeymoon phase between the government and the people. But no honeymoon lasts forever. The relationship needs to be strengthened through concrete results. The priest also highlights some critical points. “The government has been in power since March 2026, and many ministers are newcomers to politics. This inevitably leads to a certain lack of experience, which is both a limitation and an opportunity.” Among the biggest social challenges, we continue to have emigration: “Unemployment is leading many young people to work abroad. The Nepalese economy depends heavily on remittances from emigrants to their families.” Therefore, the government intends to create new jobs in strategic production sectors: “We need to promote industry, tourism, and agriculture, which continue to be some of Nepal’s most important economic resources. Promoting tourism and enhancing world-famous destinations, such as the Himalayas, are also fundamental priorities,” explains Father Bogati. Among the government’s initial measures are several decrees. One of these measures revoked numerous appointments made based on political connections: “Approximately 1,500 people who had obtained public office through political connections were dismissed. This measure had broad public support,” reports the priest. At the same time, some decrees approved by the government generated debate. Among them, measures to restrict the presence of unions in certain sectors of the public service, as well as anti-corruption measures that led to investigations and arrests for alleged financial crimes. Special attention is also being given to educational reform, which directly affects Catholic institutions: “One of the new rules requires schools with foreign names to adopt local names within a year. This also affects those in the traditional schools, some over seventy years old, that honor saints like Saint Joseph,” explains the administrator. For the Church, this is a delicate matter: “If we were forced to change our name, we would lose an essential part of our identity. Therefore, we intend to dialogue with the government to explain our position and find a joint solution, possibly through an exemption,” he explains. Despite these concerns, the priest emphasizes that the authorities have not shown any hostility towards the Christian community. “The government has not shown any prejudice against Christians,” he affirms. “We hope that this can inaugurate a period of peace and good governance that gives new hope to the population.” Father Bogati then draws attention to Pope Leo XIV, who enjoys great esteem in the Himalayan country. “Many non-Christians also appreciate his commitment to peace and his role as a moral authority on the international stage,” he explains to Fides. “The Nepalese people and government are committed to peace. Therefore, the Pope’s message is received with respect and is also an important testimony for those who do not belong to the Catholic Church,” he concludes.
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