Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India to hold 37th General Body Meeting in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has convened its 37th General Body Meeting from February 4 to 10 at St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru.

The biennial gathering will bring together Catholic bishops and church leaders from across the country to reflect on the church’s mission in contemporary India, the CBCI said in a press release.

The General Body Meeting will be held under the theme 'Faith and the Nation: The Church’s Witness to India’s Constitutional Vision', highlighting the church’s commitment to constitutional values and nation-building.

Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, will be the chief guest for the inaugural session.

"Christianity is not a foreign religion. It has existed in India over the last 2,000 years. Although we are a minority, we have made significant contributions to nation-building and we continue to do so. We are proud Indians,” Archbishop Andrews Thazhath said during the press conference, while expressing concerns over instances of discrimination and attacks on Christians in some parts of the country.

The meeting will feature special sessions on the current socio-political context and constitutional values, with inputs from eminent legal and academic experts, including former Supreme Court Judge Justice KM Joseph and Prof D Dominic.

The agenda also includes presentations and discussions on reports from various CBCI offices and commissions, two focused workshops addressing key challenges and possible solutions, and elections of chairpersons of various CBCI offices as well as CBCI office-bearers.

A public function will be organised on February 9 to felicitate distinguished Christians in recognition of their significant contributions to society and the Church in India.