India’s Latin-rite bisho-ps were gathering in the hold-ing their plenary assembly in the seaside town of Mahabalipuram in southern India’s Tamil Nadu State.

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) of the Latin-rite bishops, was held its 31st plenary assembly at the Joe Animation Centre from January 8 to 14 on the theme, “Evangelii Gaudium,” or “The Joy of the Gospel,” the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis that deals with the Church’s primary mission of evangelizations in the modern world. Several speakers, including a nun and a lay man are scheduled to address the bishops on various aspects and ways to promote the “Joy of the Gospel” in the Church in India by upholding the ministry of love and compassion.

The CCBI plenary meeting will also look into the present situation of the Church in India.

Most Rev. Dr Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman was elected as the new President of the CCBI by the 31st Plenary Assembly of the National Episcopal Conference of India. Most Rev. Dr George Antonysamy Archbishop of Chennai-Mylapore and Most Rev. Dr Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, the Archbishop of Delhi were re-elected CCBI Vice president and Secretary General respectively. According to Fr Alathara, the CCBI, with 132 dioceses and 189 bishops, is the largest bishops’ conference in Asia and the fourth largest in the world.