By Matters India Reporter
NEW DELHI, August 24, 2026: The All India Catholic Union, the oldest Catholic laity organization in South and Southeast Asia, has chosen a new leadership team to guide the organization for the next two years as it seeks to expand its grassroots presence and strengthen youth participation across India.
The AICU on August 23 has elected A. Chinnappan of Delhi as its national president and Alexander Anthony of Kolkata as its national vice president for the 2026-28 term.
The elections were held during the organization’s annual general body meeting in New Delhi, ushering in a new leadership team for an organization that has long championed religious freedom, minority rights and social justice.
Chinnappan, a retired senior executive of the Aditya Birla Group who retired as assistant vice president, brings decades of professional and church leadership experience to the role.
Born in Munnar, Kerala, he has served in a variety of parish and diocesan positions, including the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Laity Commission and the Inter-Faith and Ecumenism Commission.
Setting out his vision for the organization, Chinnappan said: “One Faith. Three Rites. One Catholic Family.”
He also called for “a stronger youth, a stronger AICU,” describing an organization that is “united in its diversity, strong in its faith, connected to its grassroots, self-innovative in its approach, constructive in its relationship with the Church, and committed to the service of India.”
Chinnappan said the national body should have a presence “in every state and diocese,” remaining as close as possible to Catholic communities across the country.
Anthony, a Kolkata-based businessman and longtime lay leader, has been active in Catholic organizations since his student days at St. Xavier’s institutions in Kolkata.
He served as secretary general and later president of the Catholic Association of Bengal and held leadership roles within the Archdiocese of Calcutta, including service on the organizing committee for the 2016 celebrations marking the sainthood of Mother Teresa.
Anthony joined the AICU in 2006 as West Bengal state president. He later served as honorary treasurer, assistant vice president and secretary general before being elected national vice president.
The AICU said it remains committed to defending “the rights of Christians facing persecution” and supporting “freedom of faith in India.” The organization has also advocated for Dalit Christians, seeking their inclusion in protections and benefits available to other Dalit communities.
Beyond church issues, the union has worked to strengthen civil society and build relationships with other Christian denominations and people of different faiths nationwide.
Founded in 1919, the AICU — Asia’s largest association of Catholic laity – is tasked with a mission to represent and articulate the aspirations of the laity, pro-ecclesia, and unwavering in its support to the synodal church.
AICU seeks to speak up against all forms of injustice, fight against attempts to divide people along race, religion and community lines, to ensure, social, political, and economic freedom among every citizen of India, according to its website.