Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Delegation Meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi

A delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), led by its President, His Grace Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday evening for a 45-minute discussion. The delegation included His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas, Bishop of Bathery and Vice President of the CBCI, His Grace Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Archbishop of Delhi and Secretary General of the CBCI, and Rev. Dr. Mathew Koyickal, Deputy Secretary General of the CBCI. Suresh Gopi, Member of Parliament from Thrissur and Union Minister of State, was also present during the meeting.

During the discussion, the CBCI delegation urged the Prime Minister to take effective steps to restore peace in Manipur and expedite the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to India. Prime Minister Modi assured the delegation that the Central Government is committed to both facilitating the Pope’s visit and restoring peace in Manipur.

Additionally, the CBCI delegation raised concerns over the discrimination faced by Dalit and tribal Christians, as well as the increasing violence against Christian communities and institutions across the country. They called for immediate government action to address these issues.

In a press conference following the meeting, CBCI leaders shared that Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving peace in Manipur and ensuring the Pope’s visit becomes a reality soon.