The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India opened its 37th General Body Meeting here on Wednesday, February 4, with a strong affirmation of the Church’s commitment to India’s constitutional vision, gathering over 200 bishops from 174 dioceses across the country.
The week-long biennial meeting, being held at St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences until February 10, has been organised under the theme “Faith and the Nation: The Church’s Witness to India’s Constitutional Vision.”
Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, inaugurated the gathering at a solemn Eucharistic celebration at 9 am. In his homily, he called upon the bishops to be the “light and salt of the earth” and urged them to remain “joyful, kind, faithful, and humble servants” in their mission, witnessing Christ’s love through outreach to the poor and marginalised.
The Mass was concelebrated by senior Church leaders including Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, President of the CBCI; Cardinal Filip Neri Ferrao; His Beatitude Mar Raphael Thattil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church; Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Church; and Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop Emeritus of Bombay.
The formal inaugural session began at 11 am with the traditional lighting of the lamp. The Archbishop of Bangalore, hosting the meeting, said the chosen theme reflects the Church’s deep-rooted commitment to the values enshrined in the Constitution of India.
Archbishop George Antonysamy read out the message of Pope Leo XIV to the gathering.
In his inaugural address, Archbishop Girelli observed that the ideals expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution resonate strongly with the Church’s social teachings. He noted that despite contemporary challenges, the Church continues to serve the nation through humane development and by contributing to the moral conscience of society. He urged Church leaders to seek new ways to live and practise faith in harmony with constitutional values.
Delivering the Presidential Address, Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath stated that the Church stands at a critical moment where “conscience is being tested and faith is increasingly examined in the public sphere.” He described the theme as both a “profound spiritual confession” and a “public responsibility,” calling upon bishops to be missionaries of hope and empowerment.
Addressing emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence, he stressed the need to humanise technology and ensure that the human person remains at the centre. He urged the Church to become “digital missionaries,” using digital platforms responsibly for evangelisation and dialogue while forming critical and ethically grounded engagement with digital culture.
He also emphasised the importance of deepening the synodal journey, forming leaders for public life, and empowering the laity, youth, and women.
Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Secretary General of the CBCI, presented the Biennial Report covering the period from February 2024 to January 2026.
A significant moment during the proceedings was the felicitation of 31 newly appointed bishops by the Apostolic Nuncio with a shawl and memento. This was followed by a solemn observance of silence in memory of bishops who had passed away.
Messages from Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, and Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, were read out, expressing solidarity from the universal Church.
According to a CBCI office-bearer, the gathering is intended to be both reflective and action-oriented. “The General Body Meeting provides a space for collective discernment on how the Church can continue to serve society while remaining faithful to the constitutional vision of justice, equality, and dignity for all,” he said.
A key part of the assembly will be a series of sessions examining the current socio-political situation in the country, with special focus on constitutional values. Legal and academic experts, including former Supreme Court judge Justice K M Joseph and Prof D Dominic, will offer perspectives during these discussions.
The meeting will also include elections for chairpersons of different CBCI offices and CBCI office-bearers.
The gathering concluded its inaugural session with a vote of thanks proposed by Archbishop Joseph Mar Thomas, Vice-President II of the CBCI. Rev Fr Jesudoss Rajamanickam, Director of St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, briefed participants on guidelines for their stay on the campus.
The General Body Meeting will conclude on February 10 with a valedictory function, followed by a press briefing.
