Catholic Bishops' Conference of India

The CBCI is technically not an episcopal conference as prescribed in canon 447 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law; that role is fulfilled by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India. Rather, the CBCI is similar to the 'assembly of bishops' described in 322§2 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

Pope John Paul II in a letter in 1987 directed the three rites to set up their own bishops' conferences. Nevertheless, the CBCI is the face of the Catholic Church in India and addresses the Church's "questions of common concern and of a national and supra-ritual character", while the episcopal body that heads each rite deals with internal issues.[2][3]

The statutes of the CBCI were approved by the Holy See on 21 April 1976.[4] The statutes were revised in 1996 by the CBCI.[3]

The ordinary members of the CBCI comprises all diocesan and eparchial bishops in India and those considered equal to them by canon law, as well as co-adjutor and auxiliary Bishops, and other titular Bishops performing a special work in India entrusted to them by the Apostolic See or by the Conference. Retired bishops and other titular bishops, not ordinary members of the Conference, and residing in India, are honorary members of the Conference. As of February 2014, the CBCI had around 180 members and 59 honorary members and it serves 167 dioceses.

The objectives of the CBCI are to facilitate coordinated study and discussion of questions affecting the Church, and adoption of a common policy and effective action in matters concerning the common interests of the Catholic Church in India. The CBCI reviews the position of the Church in India, and also undertakes a variety of activities covering, for example, the youth, health care and media. Another role of the CBCI is to foster the communion among the three sui juris Churches. The CBCI is the face of the Catholic Church in India promotes advocacy on national issues, makes representation to Government, liaises with the Government and networks with other Christian Churches, organizations, associations of civil society and people of other religions.[1]

The CBCI is at the service of the different episcopal conferences of three rites and the 13 regional councils of bishops.[5]

• Valerian Gracias (1958–1972)
• Mar Joseph Parecattil (1972–1976)
• Lawrence Picachy, S.J. (1976–1982)
• Simon Pimenta (1982–1988)
• Aboon Mor Benedict Gregorios, O.I.C.. (1988–1989)
• Alphonsus Mathias (1989 – 1994)
• Joseph Powathil (1994–1998)
• Alan Basil de Lastic (1998 – 20 June 2000)
• Moran Mor Cyril Baselios, O.I.C. (2000–2004)
• Telesphore Toppo (12 January 2004 – 19 February 2008)
• Mar Varkey Vithayathil, C.Ss.R. (19 February 2008 – 3 March 2010)
• Oswald Gracias (4 March 2010 – 10 February 2014)[6]
• Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis (11 February 2014 - 9 February 2018)[7]
• Oswald Gracias (9 February 2018 - present)

• 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)
• CBCI Society for Medical Education, North India

• Catholic Church in India
• List of Catholic bishops of India

• CBCI official website
• CBCI at GCatholic.org
• Caritas India