Bangalore, February 8, 2025 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Bernard Laloo (49) of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Shillong, currently the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Shillong on February 8, 2025. Fr. Bernard Laloo was born on June 16, 1976 at Laitlyngkot, Meghalaya, and was ordained a priest on April 30, 2006, for the Archdioceses of Shillong. He served the Archdiocese as Assistant of St. Paul’s Church, Upper S

Bhubaneswar, January 28, 2025: Pope Francis has called on the Indian Bishops to prioritize the poor and the vulnerable in their ministry urging them to open wide the doors of the Church, in his address to the 36th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI). The assembly is being held at XIM University in the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. In a message read out by Archbishop George Antonysamy, the Vice President of the CCBI, the Pope expressed

Bangalore, January 25, 2025 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias (80), the Archbishop of Bombay. Bishop John Rodrigues (57), who was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay on November 30, now formally assumes office as the Archbishop of Bombay. Cardinal Oswald Gracias was the President of the CCBI and the CBCI. He was born on 24 December 1944 in Mahim, Mumbai, in the archdiocese of Bombay, Indi

Bhubaneswar, February 2, 2025 (CCBI): Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão has been re-elected as the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), while Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore has been elected as the Vice President and Archbishop Vincent Aind of Ranchi as Secretary General. The elections took place during the 36th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI at XIM University, Bhubaneswar. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão (72) was first elected the President at the 31st

Bangalore, January 4, 2025 (CCBI): Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão took charge as the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) on 1st January 2025, after Cardinal Charles Muang Bo, SDB, the President of the Episcopal Conference of Myanmar, lay down his office as the Head of the Asian Church. Cardinal Ferrão, the President of the CCBI and the Archbishop of Goa was elected the President of the FABC at the last Central Committee Meeting held in Bangkok on Feb

Bangalore, November 30, 2024 (CCBI): The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Bishop John Rodrigues (57) as Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay (India), transferring him from the Diocese of Poona. This appointment was made on November 30, 2024. He will take charge as the Archbishop of Bombay on January 25, 2025. Bishop John Rodrigues was born on August 21, 1967, in the Archdiocese of Bombay. He completed his studies in Philosophy and Theology at St. Pius X Col

Bangalore, November 9, 2024 (CCBI): Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Fr Ambrose Ptichaimuthu (58) currently the Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission for Proclamation and the Director of Pontifical Mission Organisations as the Bishop of Vellore in Tamil Nadu. He is an incardinated priest of the diocese of Chingleput. This appointment was made public on November 9, 2024. Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore formally announced the appointment at the CCBI General Sec

Bangalore, November 9, 2024 (CCBI): The Holy Father Pope Francis has made new appointments to four Indian dioceses, naming Fr. Thomas D’Souza (54) as the Bishop of Vasai in Maharashtra, Fr. Ambrose Pitchaimuthu (58) as the Bishop of Vellore in Tamil Nadu, and Rev. Anthony Das Pilli (51) as the Coadjutor Bishop of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, he has transferred Bishop Paul Simick (61), previously the Apostolic Vicar of Nepal, to serve as the Bishop of Bagdogra. The

Archbishop Antony Pappusamy Retires; Bishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu Appointed Administrator of Madurai Vatican City, November 4, 2024 (CCBI): Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Antony Pappusamy, 75, from his duties as the shepherd of the Archdiocese of Madurai, appointing Bishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu, 63, of Palayamkottai as the Apostolic Administrator. This transition marks a new chapter for the Archdiocese, which Archbishop Pappusamy has led with dedica

Bangalore, October 24, 2024 (CCBI): Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), has been elected as a member of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod. The election took place on October 23, 2024, during the 15th General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops. Earlier this month, on October 9, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Ferrão to the committee res

Bangalore October 8, 2024 (CCBI) Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Barreto Anthony Alwyn Fernandes (71) from the pastoral governance of the diocese Sindhudurg on October 8, 2024. He is the first bishop of our diocese since its formation on July 5, 2005. He was born on December 22, 1952, in the Archdiocese of Goa-Daman. He studied in Goa and pursued his ecclesiastical studies at the St. Charles Seminary in Nagpur, for Philosophy, and the Papal Seminary in Pun

Bangalore, October 6, 2024 (CCBI): Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad, a 51-year-old Indian priest from the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Changanacherry, Kerala, has been elevated to the rank of Cardinal. Msgr. Geroge Jacob has been responsible for organizing Pope Francis’ international travels since 2020. He is among 21 new Cardinals announced by Pope Francis on October 6, 2024. The formal ceremony for the creation of these Cardinals is scheduled for December 8, on the Feast of t

Bangalore, 11 September 2024 (CCBI): Fr. Rudolph Raj Pinto, O.C.D. (48), a member of the Karnataka Province of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCD), has been appointed as the new Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Liturgy. The appointment was made during the Executive Committee meeting of the CCBI held on September 10-11, 2024, in Bangalore. Fr. Rudolph is highly qualified, holding an MSc in Counselling Psychology from the University of Madras, a Licentiate, and a Doctor

Bangalore, September 11, 2024 (CCBI) – The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has launched its new National Pastoral Plan, titled “Journeying towards a Synodal Church: Mission 2033.” The plan was officially released by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the CCBI, during a meeting at St. John’s National Institute of Health Sciences, Bangalore, on September 11, 2024. The event saw the presence of 40 bishops, along with 27 secretaries of CCBI Commissions and r

Bangalore, September 10, 2024: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) launched a set of 115 school textbooks along with electives/non-core curriculum books for CBSE and ICSE schools at an event, held at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, on September 10, 2024. The textbooks were officially unveiled by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the CCBI, in the presence of 40 bishops attending the CCBI Executive Committee meeting, along with