Christanity is said to have arrived in South India with St Thomas the Apostle in AD 52. However scholars say it's more likely Christanity arrived around the 4 th century with a Syrian merchant, Thomas Cana, who set out for Kerala with 400 families.

Catholicism established a strong presence in south India in the wake of Vasco da Gama's visit in 1498 and orders that have been active in the region include Dominicans, Franciscans and Jesuits. Christanity is the largest religion in the world with Pope Benedict XVI of Vatican as the Head.