Cardinal Poola Anthony was born on November 15, 1961, in Poluru in the Diocese of Kurnool. After completing his formation at the minor seminary in Nuzvid, he pursued priestly studies at Saint Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bengaluru. He was ordained a priest on February 20, 1992, and incardinated into the Diocese of Cuddapah.

In the initial years of his priestly ministry, he served as parish vicar at Saint Mary’s Cathedral (1992–1993) and Amagampalli (1993–1994), followed by pastoral service as parish priest in Tekurpet (1994–1995), Badvel (1995–2000), and Veerapalli (2000–2001). From 2001 to 2003, he pursued higher studies in the United States, earning a master’s degree in pastoral care and attending a theology course at Loyola University, Chicago, while offering pastoral ministry at Saint Genevieve Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

From 2004 to 2008, Cardinal Poola Anthony served as Director of the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. He also held several key responsibilities in the Diocese of Cuddapah, including diocesan consultor, Secretary for Education, Deputy Administrator of diocesan schools, and coordinator of the Sponsorship Program.

He was appointed Bishop of Kurnool on February 8, 2008, and was consecrated on April 19, 2008. On November 19, 2020, Pope Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad. He was created and proclaimed cardinal by Pope Francis during the Consistory held on August 27, 2022, and was assigned the titular church of Ss. Protomartiri a Via Aurelia Antica.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) elected its new office bearers for a two-year term during the 37th General Body Meeting held in Bengaluru on February 7.

Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos of Trivandrum was elected Vice President–First, while Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt of Kottayam was chosen as Vice President–Second. Archbishop Anil Couto was re-elected as Secretary General, continuing his responsibility for coordinating the Conference’s national pastoral initiatives and administrative activities.

The newly elected leadership reflects the ecclesial and liturgical diversity of the Catholic Church in India. Archbishop Anil Couto represents the Latin Rite, Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos belongs to the Syro-Malankara Rite, and Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt represents the Syro-Malabar Rite. This representation highlights the inclusive and collaborative character of the CBCI, which brings together bishops from India’s three Catholic traditions to foster unity and common mission.

During the same General Body Meeting, Cardinal Poola Anthony, Archbishop of Hyderabad, was elected President of the CBCI, marking a new phase of leadership for the national body of Catholic bishops. The meeting concluded with renewed commitment to pastoral collaboration, unity, and mission-oriented service across the Church in India.

DMK Rajya Sabha member P. Wilson urged the Union Government to grant constitutional status to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), arguing that the statutory body has become ineffective at a time when minority communities face growing insecurity.

Raising the issue in the Upper House, Wilson described the matter as central to the spirit of the Constitution and expressed concern over what he characterised as increasing incidents of targeted violence against minority groups. He referred to cases of mob lynching, attacks on pastors and priests, and vandalism of places of worship, stating that such incidents undermine constitutional guarantees of equality, secularism and religious freedom.

The senior advocate-turned-parliamentarian also alleged that anti-conversion laws in some States are being misused, citing data that nearly 400 cases have been registered since 2020, resulting in around 1,200 arrests. According to him, minorities require stronger institutional protection, yet the NCM currently lacks leadership, with key posts such as Chairperson and members remaining vacant.

Wilson referenced a Parliamentary Standing Committee report that had recommended granting constitutional status to the Commission, noting that its advisory powers have limited effectiveness. He called for constitutional amendments and reforms to strengthen the Commission’s authority, including investigative powers. The issue drew attention in the Rajya Sabha amid broader discussions on institutional safeguards and the protection of constitutional values and minority rights.

The regulations aimed to promote inclusion by requiring equity committees with representation from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, persons with disabilities, and women. While intended to improve institutional accountability, critics raised concerns that committees chaired by vice chancellors may struggle to challenge existing power structures. Church leaders have emphasized that caste discrimination remains a serious issue, even within Christian educational institutions. They recalled past demands for justice after student deaths linked to discrimination and stressed that denying rights to Dalit Christians is both discriminatory and unconstitutional. Religious leaders also urged the Church to speak more strongly when efforts to address inequality are portrayed as divisive.

Legal experts have offered differing views. Some political voices welcomed the Supreme Court’s stay, arguing it could reduce tensions, while others pointed to constitutional protections against discrimination and stressed the need to confront social inequalities openly. Studies show that caste-based exclusion continues across religious boundaries, affecting educational outcomes and contributing to higher dropout rates among marginalized students. Dalit Christians, in particular, face challenges as conversion often leads to loss of certain affirmative action benefits while social prejudice persists.

Church statements in the past have declared casteism a sin, but observers say implementation has been uneven. Some institutions have introduced independent anti-discrimination mechanisms and curriculum reforms, showing possible paths forward. Leaders say meaningful change requires stronger policies, independent oversight, and continued advocacy for marginalized communities.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has elected new office bearers and committee heads to lead its various commissions and institutions as the 2026 General Body Meeting concluded.

The week-long assembly, held from February 4 to 10 at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, brought together bishops from across the country to reflect on pastoral priorities and the Church’s engagement with contemporary society. Key discussions focused on social welfare, education, healthcare, pastoral ministry, and coordinated responses to emerging challenges facing both the Church and the nation.

During the proceedings, Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi was elected secretary general. Several bishops were also appointed to head important CBCI offices and institutions to ensure coordinated leadership across different sectors.

Bishop Vincent Paulos was elected chairman of the Office for Labour and Migrants, while Bishop Joseph Kallaranghat will head Dialogue and the Desk for Ecumenism. Bishop Johannes Gorantla, OCD, was chosen to lead the Office for Clergy, Religious and NVSC, and Archbishop Elias Gonsalves will chair Education and Culture. Archbishop Thomas Netto will oversee Healthcare, and Bishop Jaya Rao Polimera will head the Office for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.

Additional appointments include Bishop Telesphore Bilung, SVD, for Tribal Affairs; Bishop Vijay Kumar Rayalara, PIME, for Social Communications and NISCORT; Archbishop Raphy Manjaly for Doctrine; Bishop Ivan Pereira for Environment and Climate Change; Archbishop Peter Machado for Justice, Peace and Development; and Archbishop Linus Neli for Caritas India. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to unity, service and collaborative pastoral mission.