By Thomas Scaria
Bengaluru, Jan 30, 2024: The Catholic bishops of India will study the Church’s response to the current sociopolitical situations in the country and challenges of Artificial Intelligence at their 36th biennial plenary meeting starting January 31.
Around 175 members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) are expected attend the eight day meeting to be opened by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, according to a press release.
Bengaluru’s St. John’s Medical College will host the CBCI general body meeting that will end on February 7.
Conference president Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur and other office bearers on January 30 addressed a press conference at St John’s.
The press release noted that the plenary theme allies with Pope Francis’ message on the World Communication Day.
The meeting will highlight the Church’s commitment to engaging with the pressing current issues, including the current socio-political situation. It will also study the outcomes of the Rome Synod in October 2023, review the present status of the violence-torn northeastern Indian state of Manipur, and examine the overall situation of Christians in the country.
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, and Grand Chancellor of the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences, will deliver his insights on the benefits and challenges of Artificial Intelligence.
On February 6, the conference will elect its president, two vice presidents, and the secretary general.
The press release said the meeting serves as a crucial forum for bishops to collectively discern and strategize responses to religious, social, and national issues.