New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) is set to hold its 37th General Body Meeting (GBM) from February 4 to 10, 2026, at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences in Bengaluru. The biennial gathering will bring together Catholic bishops representing 174 dioceses from across the country for a period of prayer, reflection, and collective discernment on issues of ecclesial relevance and national concern.
This year’s General Body Meeting is centred on the theme, “Faith and the Nation: The Church’s Witness to India’s Constitutional Vision,” which resonates with the CBCI motto, “United in Witness.” Grounded in the Gospel and inspired by Christ’s message of love, the meeting aims to reaffirm the Church’s commitment to deepening faith, fostering unity, and actively contributing to justice, peace, and harmony within India’s diverse and pluralistic society.
The week-long assembly will formally commence on February 4 with a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal. Archbishop Girelli will also deliver the Inaugural Address during the opening ceremony at St. John’s Auditorium. The Presidential Address will be given by Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, President of the CBCI, who is expected to outline the pastoral priorities and challenges facing the Church in the present national context.
Throughout the meeting, the bishops will engage in detailed discussions on the chosen theme, reflecting on its theological, social, and political dimensions. Deliberations will focus on the Church’s responsibility to uphold and promote constitutional values, particularly at a time when these principles face increasing challenges. The bishops are also expected to address growing concerns over incidents targeting Christian communities in different parts of the country and to explore collective pastoral and social responses.
Preparations for the 37th General Body Meeting have been undertaken under the leadership of the CBCI, with Fr. Mathew Koyickal, Deputy Secretary General of the CBCI, playing a key coordinating role alongside various CBCI offices and commissions. St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, an institution managed by the CBCI, is providing comprehensive logistical and organizational support to ensure the smooth conduct of the assembly.
Calling for the spiritual support of the faithful, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath has invited Catholics across India to pray for the success and fruitfulness of the General Body Meeting. He expressed hope that the deliberations would strengthen the Church’s witness to faith and unity, and reaffirm its commitment to safeguarding the constitutional values that underpin the nation’s democratic and inclusive ethos.