As the Catholic Church across the world reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, NESCOM speaks with Bishop Vijayakumar Rayarala, Chairman of the CBCI Office for Social Communication and Bishop of the Diocese of Srikakulam.
The first bishop from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) to lead the CBCI Office for Social Communication, Bishop Vijayakumar is presently the only PIME bishop serving in India.
His pastoral ministry among hill tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh and his missionary experience offer a distinctive perspective on the encyclical’s central themes of human dignity, ethical responsibility, communication, solidarity, and hope.
In this interview, Bishop Vijayakumar reflects on the relevance of Magnifica Humanitas for India, addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, social fragmentation, economic inequality, and cultural change. He also shares how the Church can remain a credible witness to truth, reconciliation, and human flourishing in an increasingly interconnected yet divided world.
1. Pope Leo XIV places human dignity at the centre of Magnifica Humanitas, especially in a world increasingly moulded by technology, economic pressures, and social divisions. From the perspective of the Church in India, what aspects of human dignity do you believe are most under threat today?
Pope Leo XIV reminds us in Magnifica Humanitas that the human person must remain at the heart of every social, economic, and technological advancement. In India today, human dignity is often threatened when people are judged only by economic success, social status, or digital visibility, while the poor, migrants, unemployed youth, and marginalized communities are pushed aside.
The Holy Father’s warning against the “Babel syndrome” is very relevant in our context, where misinformation, polarization, and social divisions weaken relationships and create new forms of exclusion.
We also continue to witness discrimination based on caste, exploitation of labour, religious intolerance, and neglect of those living on the margins. The Church is therefore called to promote a culture of dialogue, solidarity, and fraternity where every person is respected as created in the image and likeness of God.
2. One of the encyclical’s strongest concerns is the ethical use of artificial intelligence and digital communication. At a time when misinformation, online polarisation, and digital dependency are growing, what responsibility does the Church in India have in shaping a more humane digital culture?
Magnifica Humanitas strongly reminds us that technology and artificial intelligence must always serve humanity and never replace conscience, compassion, or truth.
In the Indian context, where misinformation, online hostility, and digital dependency are increasingly shaping society, the Church has a serious responsibility to foster an ethical and humane digital culture.
As the CBCI Office for Social Communication, we believe the Church must become a credible voice for truth, responsible communication, digital literacy, and respectful dialogue, especially among young people.
Pope Leo XIV’s caution against the “Babel syndrome” challenges us to ensure that digital platforms do not become spaces of manipulation or division, but instruments of fraternity and peace. Communication, therefore, should not merely transmit information but also foster authentic human relationships and strengthen the values of justice, compassion, and social harmony.
3. The Holy Father repeatedly speaks of hope in what he describes as a fragmented world. India itself reflects immense diversity, yet also faces social tensions and inequalities. In your view, how can the Church become a credible witness of hope and reconciliation in such a context?
Pope Leo XIV reminds us that genuine hope is born when people choose dialogue, solidarity, and the common good over division and self-interest. In a country as diverse as India, where social tensions, inequalities, and religious differences continue to challenge harmony, the Church must become a living witness to reconciliation and fraternity.
The Church can do this by standing close to the poor and vulnerable, promoting interreligious dialogue, defending human dignity, and creating spaces where people encounter one another with respect and compassion. The Holy Father’s image of rebuilding Jerusalem together is especially meaningful for India, as it calls communities to work collectively to heal divisions and strengthen unity. Our mission is not only to speak about hope but also to communicate it through concrete acts of justice, peace building, inclusion, and compassionate service.
4. As a missionary bishop working among hill tribal communities, Your Excellency encounters realities often distant from national conversations on technology and development. How does Magnifica Humanitas speak to the lives of indigenous and marginalised communities, and what can mainstream society learn from them?
As a missionary bishop serving in the Diocese of Srikakulam, I have personally seen how tribal and marginalized communities are frequently excluded from the benefits of development while carrying many of its burdens. Magnifica Humanitas speaks powerfully to these realities by reminding us that human dignity is not determined by economic productivity, technological access, or social status, but by the fact that every person is created in the image of God. Many tribal communities in our region continue to struggle with poverty, displacement, inadequate healthcare, limited educational opportunities, unemployment, and poor connectivity, even as society rapidly advances in artificial intelligence and digital technologies. At the same time, mainstream society has much to learn from these communities, particularly their deep respect for nature, strong family bonds, spirit of sharing, and sense of collective responsibility. Pope Leo XIV’s call to resist a culture driven solely by profit is especially meaningful in India because true development must protect the dignity, identity, and rights of indigenous peoples rather than leave them behind.
5. Magnifica Humanitas arrives 135 years after Rerum Novarum, renewing the Church’s social vision for a new era. Looking ahead, what do you believe will be the most enduring challenge this encyclical poses to Catholics in India—not only as believers, but also as citizens called to shape society?
Magnifica Humanitas, coming 135 years after Rerum Novarum, challenges Catholics in India to ensure that progress never comes at the cost of human dignity. Pope Leo XIII warned in Rerum Novarum (No. 20) that “to exercise pressure upon the indigent and the destitute for the sake of gain” is condemned by all laws, human and divine, and this teaching remains deeply relevant in today’s social and economic realities. Echoing this concern, Pope Leo XIV cautions in Magnifica Humanitas (No. 10) against the “Babel syndrome,” whereby profit, efficiency, and technological power can lead to the sacrifice of the weak and reduce the human person to mere data and performance. For Catholics in India, the enduring challenge is to live their faith not only through personal devotion but also through responsible participation in public life, defending truth, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring that development serves humanity rather than dominates it. As believers and citizens, we are called to help build a society rooted in justice, fraternity, dialogue, and compassion, where no one is excluded from dignity or hope.
Interview by NESCOM for its special series on Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and its relevance for the Church and society in India.