A group of individuals has decided to observe 16 May as a “Black Day” and has urged the Goa government to do the same, citing a 1546 letter written by St Francis Xavier to the Portuguese king regarding the Goa Inquisition. However, historical records show that St Francis Xavier passed away in 1552, years before the Inquisition was formally introduced in 1560.
Historians also note that the Inquisition mainly targeted converted Catholics accused of continuing earlier religious practices. Goa has long been known for communal harmony, and sensitive historical issues should be discussed responsibly without creating unnecessary divisions or tensions among communities.
