Pandemic kills four Catholic priests in India daily

At least 120 Catholic priests have died from Covid-19 in India over the past month, an average of four per day, as the pandemic kills around 4,000 per day across the country.

Capuchin Father Suresh Mathew, church editor Indian currents magazine, lists the names, dioceses and religious congregations of 117 priests who died between April 10 and May 14.

“The list is incomplete. The death toll is obviously going to increase as we don’t have full details on the priests who died during this second wave, ”Father Mathew told UCA News on May 15.

Of the 117 priests listed, 48 belong to different religious orders, the Jesuits being at the top of the list with 19 deaths.

The number of deaths will rise when more information becomes available in India’s 174 dioceses, the priest said.

“Even this initial list is very alarming as we only have some 30,000 Catholic priests and if four die every day it is a matter of great concern to all of us,” said Father Mathew.

Many priests die for lack of timely medical care. It’s a horrible situation

The list of deceased priests includes religious and diocesan priests working for the three ritual Catholic churches in India – Latin, Syro-Malabar, and Syro-Malankare.

“Many priests are dying for lack of timely medical care. It is a horrible situation, ”said Bishop Gerald Almeida of Jabalpur in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Since mid-April, India has reported more than 300,000 new cases a day as hospitals struggle to overcome the lack of beds, oxygen and life-saving medicine.

Sick people filled hospital corridors and enclosures, while many died in ambulances waiting outside hospitals for medical treatment.

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“I am shocked to know that so many priests have died while priests and the vocation to the priesthood are very rare in the country,” said Bishop Almeida.

“I discovered that the fear of death is very high among our priests and our nuns, and therefore I wanted to tell them that they are not alone and that we are with them.

“We all need to ensure that their mental health is protected and positively maintained to overcome this calamity. “

Bishop Almeida’s diocese of Jabalpur has set up a special quarantine center for priests and nuns in order to ensure their treatment and build trust between them.

At least 26 nuns and 14 priests are undergoing treatment in the quarantine center, where four nurses are on duty to take care of them. A doctor visits them daily.

All priests and nuns are asked to report immediately if they even suffer from a fever or minor headache or any other health problem. Those who test positive for Covid-19 are transferred to the quarantine center, which is equipped with basic medical facilities and oxygen.

“We only transfer critical patients to specialized hospitals. We take care of others until they recover, ”said Bishop Almeida.

Many priests risked their lives visiting families and organizing pastoral services during the last Holy Week

He opened the center after the death of one of his priests in the first wave of Covid-19 last year.

A nun who died in the diocese did not come to the bishop’s house for treatment. Most people die because they don’t get proper care at the initial stage, he said.

A high-ranking Catholic priest who did not want to be named said poor mental health is a major problem among priests, “although the cause of their death is pandemic infection.”

“Most priests suffer greatly from their isolation in situations like this. Their public contact is restricted during periods of confinement. Despite years of training in pastoral work, they are asked not to have contact with people. It’s shocking to many priests, ”he told UCA News on May 15.

“Many priests risked their lives visiting families and organizing pastoral services during the last Holy Week, when government restrictions were relaxed but the pandemic was spreading.”

The World Health Organization called India’s Covid situation “extremely worrying” after the country reported 3,980 deaths and 326,000 new cases on May 14.