Indian bishops’ conference reflects on eight decades’ journey

By Anthoniraj Thumma

New Delhi, October 23, 2026: Christianity in the Indian Subcontinent, with its presence of nearly 2000 years, is almost as ancient as Christianity itself, as it was spread here around 50 CE by Saint Thomas, one of the twelve apostles commissioned by its originator Lord Jesus Christ himself.

Among the Christian Churches in India, the Catholic Church is the single largest forming about 1.57% of the total Indian population with over 23 million Catholics.1

Despite its tiny percentage in the multi-religious India, the Catholics in India make up the second-largest Christian population in Asia after the Philippines, and one of the largest population of Catholics in the world. As a part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Catholic Church in India is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope at the Vatican.

Eighty years ago, the Catholic Bishops in India came together and formed a national association called “The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI)”. Significant phases of development of the CBCI are briefly outlined in this article with their historical settings and geo-political context.

Early beginnings

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), one of the oldest and largest Episcopal Conferences / Assemblies in the world. It began much before many such Conferences and passed through many phases of development.

Pope Leo XIII established the Episcopal Hierarchy in India on September 01, 1886 by his Apostolic Letter Humanae Salutis raising the ten of the existing Vicariates Apostolic to the status of Dioceses, and six others to the position of Archdioceses.2

That accomplishment is considered to be the official recognition of the Catholic Church in India. From then onwards, the members of the Hierarchy were meeting to exchange pastoral experiences, share their concerns and coordinate missionary works.

Even before the establishment of the CBCI, the meetings of Provincial Councils were held in all the seven existing Ecclesiastical Provinces.

The meetings of the Metropolitans of India were also held, which was called “the Conference of Indian Hierarchy”, first at Mylapore in 1921 and then at Bombay in 1936.3

In September 1944, the Apostolic Delegate convened the Conference of the Metropolitans of India at Madras to deal with some of the developments of the time including the Independence Movement and framing of the Constitution of India.

As proposed by the Apostolic Delegate and with the prior authorisation of their suffragans, the members of the Metropolitans’ Conference decided to establish a permanent association of the Catholic Hierarchy in India under the name: “Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI)”.

As directed by the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of Faith, the Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Leo Kierkels was accepted as the ex officio President of the Conference until 1960.4

A Working Committee was established consisting of the Directors of the different Sections. A Standing Committee was also established, composed of all the Metropolitans, some members of the Working Committee and its Chairman and the Secretary.

This Body was formally approved in January 1950 by the Plenary Council of India, held in Bangalore, which, in fact, was also the first Quinquennial Meeting of CBCI, which approved the Statutes and elected a new Standing Committee.

The amended text of the Statutes proposed by the Standing Committee was accepted at the Quinquennial Meeting of the Conference held in New Delhi in September 1960.

After the Second Vatican Council

The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) brought about a new self-understanding of the Church and its identity as the People of God, and its new relationship of dialogue with the world.

The National Episcopal Conferences got juridical and structural recognition in the Council through its Decree concerning, “The Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church”, Christus Dominus, proclaimed by Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965, which stated: “An episcopal conference is, as it were, a council in which the bishops of a given nation or territory jointly exercise their pastoral office to promote the greater good which the Church offers mankind, especially through the forms and methods of the apostolate fittingly adapted to the circumstances of the age.” (CD. 38.1).

As a consequence of Vatican II, the structure of the CBCI went through a radical change. It had started as an association of Metropolitans of India and later became a voluntary association of the Ordinaries of India.

The Council mandated the formation and functioning of National Episcopal Conferences as a canonical juridical structure consisting of all the Bishops, “a council in which the bishops of a given nation or territory jointly exercise their pastoral office” (CD. 38.1).

Hence at present, ipse facto all the diocesan and eparchial Bishops, Coadjutor Bishops, Auxiliary Bishops and Titular Bishops performing a special work in India, are the members of the CBCI. The Retired Bishops and other Titular Bishops are the honorary members of the Conference.5

In compliance with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, the CBCI reorganized itself with the National Secretariat, National Commissions, National Organizations and Regional Councils of Bishops working under its guidance and directives.

The Statutes of the CBCI were revised to adapt to the Documents of the Second Vatican Council at its meeting held at New Delhi in October 1966.

The full-fledged CBCI Centre was established in 1966 at New Delhi and began to function with the Central Secretariat and various “Commissions”, which were earlier called “Sections”.

It had been shifted from Bangalore, where it was functioning from 1948, to New Delhi in 1962.6

The All India Seminar was conducted by the CBCI on the overall theme of “Church in India Today” on May 15-25, 1969 at Bangalore.

Its main purpose was to bring about the renewal of the Church in India and in “the spirit of Vatican II to revitalize the Church and serve the country anew”.7

A few preparatory National Consultations and several preparatory Seminars were held at the national, regional and diocesan levels.

Many of the recommendations and proposals of the All India Seminar were accepted by the CBCI in its General Meeting held on January 06-16, 1970 at Ernakulum. Further revision of CBCI Statutes was effected at its General Body Meetings held at Madras in April 1972 and at Hyderabad in January 1976, which were approved by the Holy See on 21 April 1976.

The CBCI became a legal civil entity when it was registered as a Society under the Registration of Societies Act XXI of 1860 (Punjab Amendment Act 1957), with Regd. No. S/5962 of 15/10/1973.8

Subsequent to the Letter of Pope St John Paul II

The promulgation of the Latin Code of Canon Law (CIC) in 1983 contributed to the debate regarding establishing a distinct Conferences for the sui juris Churches of the Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Rites. 

After his visit to India in 1986, Pope John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter to the Indian bishops dated 28 May 1987 affirming this right: “The Bishops of each of the three Rites have the right to establish their own Episcopal bodies in accordance with their own ecclesiastical legislation.

The National Conference (i.e., the CBCI) of all Catholic Bishops of India is to continue for questions of common concern and of a national and supra-ritual character, e.g., Doctrine and Morals, Organizations of a national and supra-ritual character, questions involving the Catholic Church and the Government, etc.

These areas are to be determined in the National Conferences’ new statutes, to be approved by the Holy See.”8

In accordance with this directive of the Holy Father, the CBCI in its General Meeting in April 1988 decided that all the three ritual Churches could have their own episcopal bodies.

Hence, the ecclesial reality of three Episcopal Bodies with their own rights and ecclesiastical legislations came into existence.

Accordingly, the three Individual sui juris (Ritual) Churches have their respective Episcopal Bodies, these are: the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) for the Latin Church, the Syro-Malabar Bishops’ Synod (SMBS) for the Syro-Malabar Church, and the Holy Episcopal Synod for the Syro-Malankara Church.

From this period onwards, the Catholic Church in India affirms itself to be “a communion of Churches” of the Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches.

As per the directives of the above quoted letter of the Holy Father, the CBCI addresses the Church’s “questions of common concern and of a national and supra-ritual character”, while the episcopal body of each particular Church deals with internal issues of its specific Ritual Church.

Taking into consideration the provisions contained in the letter of the Holy See, the CBCI revised its Statutes again, which was approved by the concerned Dicasteries of the Holy See through their letter dated March 03, 2003 Prot. 263/03, and was promulgated by then President of CBCI Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios on July 16, 2003 and came into effect on September 14, 2003.9

Present functions and activities

Although the CBCI is not to be considered as an “episcopal conference” as described in Canon 447 of CIC 1983, however it is the national assembly of all the Catholic Bishops of India who function in unity and solidarity with each other as envisaged by the Second Vatican Council (Cf. CD 03, 38; OE 04).

It is a consultative and recommendatory body which does not limit or interfere with the authority or the work of the Ordinaries in their respective jurisdictions.

As described in the Statutes of the CBCI, 2003: “The general purpose of the Conference is to facilitate for its members the co-ordinated study and common discussion of questions of common concern and of a national and supra-ritual character affecting the Church in India, and the prosecution of a common policy and concerted pastoral action.

In this way it intends to witness Christ more effectively in the service of the people of India.” (Art. 04)10

Presently, the CBCI has 300 members including the Archbishops, Bishops, Coadjutor Bishops, Auxiliary Bishops and Archbishops / Bishops Emeriti. Of these, 215 belong to the Latin Rite, 65 to the Syro-Malabar Rite and 20 to the Syro-Malankara Rite.

The CBCI has been fulfilling the above mentioned purpose and functions catering to the existing 175 arch /dioceses and arch / eparchies, which are grouped into 35 ecclesiastical provinces and 14 regions.

Of these dioceses / eparchies, 132 arch / dioceses are of the Latin Church, 35 arch / eparchies are of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and 12 of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.11

The Latin Church consists of about 78.3% of the Indian Catholics, while nearly 19.7% belong to the Syro-Malabar Church and with approximately 02.0% to the Syro-Malankara Church.12

The CBCI fosters communion and coordination among the three sui juris Churches. It does periodical reviews of the position of the Catholic Church in India in its half-yearly meetings of the Standing Committee, and in the biennial meetings of the Plenary Assembly / General Body.

It is engaged in advocacy on national issues and policies, makes representation to Government, and liaises with the Government. It promotes ecumenical relations and networks with Councils of other Churches and Christian organizations.

Interfaith dialogue, communal harmony and social fraternity are fostered by it through mutual relations with diverse religious traditions and civil society organisations.

The CBCI functions through its various Offices and National Centres / Institutes. As the consequence of the Reorganisation of CBCI, which was approved by the CBCI General Body during its Plenary Assembly held at Guwahati in 2010, the term “Commission” was replaced by “Office”.13

At present, CBCI has the following 14 Offices: Clergy and Religious, Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism, Doctrine, Education and Culture, Environment and Climate Change, Health Care, Justice, Peace and Development and Desk for Prison Ministry, Labour, Scheduled Castes (SC) / Backward Classes (BC), Tribal Affairs, Social Communications, and Public Relations. The Office for Research and Data is the latest addition to this list.

It has three Councils for Youth, Women and Laity. The CBCI National Secretariat, some of the Offices, Council for Women, Legal Cell, and Caritas India, which is the social service and development wing of CBCI, are located at the CBCI Centre, New Delhi.

The CBCI provides some of its services through its seven National Centres / Institutes: Caritas India; St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences; National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC); National Vocation Service Centre (NVSC); National Institute of Social Communications, Research and Training (NISCORT); and CBCI Society for Medical Education, North India.

In addition, it extends its services in collaboration with the 14 Regional Bishops’ Councils, and their Regional Commissions and Centres. The CBCI operates through the support of the Catholic Religious of India (CRI) and the Catholic Council of India (CCI).14

The present executive Office Bearers of the CBCI are Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad is the President, Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos of Tiruvalla, is the Vice-President I, and Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt of Kottayam, is the Vice President II.

They were elected during the 37th Biennial General Body Meeting of the CBCI held in Bengaluru during February 04 – 10, 2026. Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto of Delhi, continues to be the Secretary General, and Rev. Fr. Dr. Mathew Koyickal as the Deputy Secretary General.

On the ecumenical front, the CBCI is one of the constituent members of the coordinating ecumenical platform named National United Christian Forum (NUCF) along with the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) of the Protestant and Orthodox Christian denominations and agencies, and the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) of the Evangelical and Pentecostal ecclesial communities and organisations.

Lately, the CBCI initiated the formation of the National Federation of the Churches in India (NFCI), an ecumenical fellowship of the Bishops and Heads of Churches, who represent their diverse Christian traditions.

Conclusion

As always, the Christian Community in India, although a miniscule minority of 2.3%, perseveres in making its significant contribution to the protection of democracy and sovereignty, to bring about social reform and social justice, for the development of languages and literacy, and for the growth of literature and arts.

It has been acknowledged and applauded by the national leaders and the public at large for providing almost one quarter of all services rendered in India, especially in the sectors of education, health care, social welfare, community development and humanitarian aid.

Particularly, the Catholic Church in India has been much appreciated and admired for its self-sacrificing service to the poor, destitute and marginalised.

During the last eight decades, the CBCI has committed to support these services undertaken by the Church in India. Its contribution mainly consists of playing the role of animation and inspiration, and facilitation and coordination. It continues to facilitate the variety of services and ministries rendered by the Catholic Church through the Catholic dioceses / eparchies, and Catholic Religious Societies / Congregations.

Thus, the CBCI endures to be the face of the Catholic Church in India, extending its solidarity to the Christian Community at large, and making its contribution to Nation building.

Despite the challenges and hurdles it faces, which sadly are on the increase, the Church in India is ever committed to the sharing the message and compassion of Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel of the Divine Reign of Love, Justice and Peace in the beloved Country of India.

References

1. See, “Catholic Church in India”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_India (accessed on 11-08-2025).
2. For this section see, CBCI Evaluation Committee, CBCI Evaluation Report: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India: Retrospect and Prospects, New Delhi, 1995, pp. 35-37.
3. Ibid; S. Arulsamy and S. Singaroyan, eds, Guide to the CBCI-CCBI Documents, New Delhi, Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, 2000, p.vi.
4. Ibid.
5. Statutes of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (C.B.C.I), New Delhi, CBCI Centre, 2003, p.7.
6. See, https://www.cbci.in
7. Thomas d’Aquino Sequeira, ed., Final Statements of the General Body Meetings of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (C.B.C.I) (1966-2012), New Delhi, CBCI Centre, 2012, p.9.
8. See, CBCI Directory 2025, New Delhi, CBCI Centre, 2025, p. 5.
9. Statutes of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (C.B.C.I), New Delhi, CBCI Centre, 2003, p. ii.
10. Ibid., p. 3.
11. https://www.cbci.in (accessed on 21-10-2026).
12. See, “Catholic Church in India”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_India (accessed on 11-08-2025).
13. See, Catholic India: Golden Jubilee Special, New Delhi, CBCI Centre, Vol. XXII, No. 2 (July-December), 2011, p.2.
14. See, CBCI Directory 2026, pp. 108 -143.

Father Anthoniraj Thumma is Secretary, CBCI Office for Dialogue & Desk for Ecumenism.

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