New Delhi: In a significant development for the Catholic Church in India, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), met with His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, at the Vatican on October 23, 2025. The meeting, which lasted for approximately ninety minutes, underscored the deepening relationship between the Indian Catholic Church and the Holy See and focused on the pastoral, social, and diplomatic concerns of the Church in India.
Archbishop Thazhath was accompanied by Cardinal George Koovakad, and the two Indian Church leaders held detailed discussions with Cardinal Parolin on various aspects of ecclesial life in India, including pastoral challenges, interreligious dialogue, and the Church’s role in promoting peace and social harmony in a pluralistic society.
During the meeting, Archbishop Thazhath extended an official invitation to Cardinal Parolin to inaugurate the upcoming CBCI General Assembly, scheduled to take place at St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore, from February 4 to 10, 2026. The General Assembly, which brings together bishops from all over India, will focus on pastoral renewal and strengthening the Church’s service to the nation in the fields of education, healthcare, and social justice.
Archbishop Thazhath also presented Cardinal Parolin with copies of a letter addressed to the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, inviting him to visit India at a mutually convenient time. Alongside the letter, he submitted a comprehensive report on the current state of the Catholic Church in India, highlighting the Church’s contributions to nation-building, its outreach programs among marginalized communities, and the efforts toward promoting communal harmony.
The report also detailed the pastoral challenges faced by the Indian Church in the context of rapid social change, secularization, and evolving political dynamics. It underlined the need for closer collaboration between the Vatican and the Indian episcopate in addressing contemporary issues through faith-based initiatives.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, discussions also covered potential engagements between Vatican officials and Indian political and religious leaders. Such interactions, if confirmed, would mark a renewed phase of Vatican-India diplomatic dialogue and further the Church’s commitment to interreligious understanding and national unity.
Cardinal Parolin, who serves as one of the Vatican’s most senior diplomats, expressed deep appreciation for the Indian Church’s commitment to social service and evangelization in a multi-religious context. He conveyed his personal best wishes to the bishops and faithful of India and assured Archbishop Thazhath that the Holy See would soon communicate a final decision regarding his participation in the February 2026 assembly.
The CBCI, representing over 200 Catholic bishops across India, plays a vital role in coordinating the Church’s work in education, healthcare, and social outreach. The anticipated participation of Cardinal Parolin in its next General Assembly would mark a moment of great significance symbolizing the Vatican’s solidarity with the Indian Catholic community and reaffirming the Church’s mission of peace, service, and witness in South Asia.
As the Indian Church prepares for the 2026 General Assembly, the Vatican meeting is seen as a hopeful step toward renewed pastoral collaboration and a reaffirmation of the Church’s role as a moral and social force in India’s pluralistic landscape.