By Philip Mathew

Bengaluru: Some 200 bishops from the three Indian Catholic rites are now in Bengaluru for their biennial plenary.

The February 2-9 general assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) will discuss a two-part theme, “I m with you always, even to the end of the ages” (Mat 28:20) “United in diversity For a mission for a mission of mercy and witness.”

Bishops from all the 174 Catholic dioceses in India are attending the meeting. India has some 204 Catholic bishops, including retired bishops.

Speaking at a press conference on February 1, organized in the run-up to the general body meeting, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, CBCI president said that the Indian catholic Church upholds the country’s unity in diversity.

According to the CBCI president, upholding the values of diversity and secularism has been among the major priorities of the Indian Catholic Church.

The CBCI is an “ecclesial praxis of living together,” the cardinal remarked.

The Church wants all Indians to grow together in dignity and totality, he said adding that the Church has a bias for “sidelined people on the periphery.”

He noted that the deliberations during the general body meeting by the bishops will empower the nation, and play a part in its growth.

This is the 33rd time a general body meeting of the CBCI, the fourth largest bishops’ conference in the world.

Responding to a question on religious conversion, Cardinal Cleemis asserted that the Catholic Church will not use any unconstitutional or illegal methods to convert people in the country.

The general body will begin with a Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, the Apostolic Nuncio to India on February 2.

Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanamar will be the chief guest at the inaugural session that will follow the Eucharist.

Among the speakers at different sessions of the general body meeting are Fr Francs Gonsalves, Sr Rekha Chennat, Sr Renu Silvano, Prof K M Francis and Sr Urmila.

The general body meeting will elect the president and two vice presidents for a term of two years.

Officers for the various offices of the CBCI will also be elected during the meeting.