Vatican City: The office bearers of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Friday, August 28, in a cordial meeting that lasted for more than 45 minutes. The discussions centred on the life, mission and pastoral concerns of the Latin Catholic Church in India.

The meeting marked an important moment for the CCBI, as it was the first time its office bearers visited the Holy Father together as a delegation.

The delegation was led by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the CCBI and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), and Archbishop of Goa and Daman.

He was accompanied by Archbishop Peter Machado, Vice President of the CCBI and Archbishop of Bangalore; Archbishop Vincent Aind, Secretary General of the CCBI and Archbishop of Ranchi; and Rev. Dr Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI.

Meeting held on Feast of St Augustine

The meeting with Pope Leo XIV took place on the Feast of St Augustine, the patron saint of the Augustinian Order to which the Pope belongs.

The CCBI delegation conveyed its greetings and good wishes to Pope Leo XIV on the occasion.

The timing of the meeting carried particular significance because of the Pope’s association with the Augustinian Order. The delegation also used the occasion to share several gifts and documents representing India’s Catholic heritage, cultural diversity and pastoral priorities.

Cardinal presents wood-carved plaque

As a special gift, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão presented Pope Leo XIV with a handcrafted oak-wood plaque depicting Jesus Christ surrounded by 12 saints associated with the Church in India.

The plaque features representations of St Thomas the Apostle, St Bartholomew the Apostle, St Francis Xavier, St Gonsalo Garcia, St Joseph Vaz, St John de Britto, St Devasahayam, St Teresa of Calcutta, St Alphonsa, St Kuriakose Elias Chavara, St Euphrasia and St Mariam Thresia.

The intricately carved plaque was crafted by Raphael, a State Award-winning sculptor from Kerala.

The selection of the saints represents different periods and traditions in the history of Christianity in India and highlights the country’s long and diverse Catholic heritage.

Indian handloom shawls presented to Pope

Archbishop Peter Machado and Archbishop Vincent Aind jointly presented Pope Leo XIV with a traditional Indian Kasavu shawl.

The shawl was crafted using fine handloom fabric and featured an elegant gold-coloured border, reflecting a traditional textile style associated with Kerala.

The office bearers also presented the Pope with a handcrafted Pattu shawl from Kashmir.

Five varieties of fine tea leaves from Darjeeling, Assam and the Nilgiris were also presented.

Together, the gifts represented India’s geographical, cultural and artisanal diversity, bringing traditions from different parts of the country to the Vatican.

CCBI shares pastoral documents

Rev. Dr Stephen Alathara presented Pope Leo XIV with copies of important CCBI documents.

Among them was the CCBI Pastoral Plan, “Journeying Towards a Synodal Church: CCBI Mission 2033”, which outlines a common pastoral vision for the Latin Catholic Church in India.

He also presented the Bhubaneswar Document of the 36th CCBI Plenary Assembly held in 2025.

Another significant item presented to the Pope was an English Standard Version (ESV) of the Catholic Bible, approved by the CCBI in 2019.

The ESV was published by Crossway, based in Wheaton, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. The connection with the Chicago region carried a special significance given Pope Leo XIV’s American roots and his connection with the city.

Cardinal highlights Pope’s familiarity with India

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão described the meeting as very friendly and said Pope Leo XIV was extremely cordial with the delegation.

According to the Cardinal, Pope Leo is familiar with the Church in India, having visited the country twice, in 2004 and 2006, during his tenure as Prior General of the Order of St Augustine.

The Pope appreciated the efforts of the Latin Catholic Church in India, particularly its work in preparing and publishing the Pastoral Plan.

The interaction provided an opportunity for the CCBI leadership to discuss the priorities and pastoral mission of the Latin Catholic Church in the country.

First joint visit of CCBI office bearers

The Vatican meeting was significant for the CCBI because it was the first occasion on which its office bearers visited the Holy Father together as a delegation.

Such meetings provide an opportunity for episcopal conferences to share the pastoral realities of their respective regions with the Pope and discuss the challenges and priorities facing the Church.

For the CCBI, the interaction also provided a platform to present India’s Catholic experience, its pastoral initiatives and its vision for the coming years.

CCBI represents Latin Catholic Church in India

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India is the canonical episcopal conference representing the Latin Catholic Church in the country.

According to the CCBI, it represents 132 Latin dioceses, 217 bishops, 564 religious congregations and nearly 18 million Latin Catholics across India.

The conference works towards strengthening cooperation among the Latin Catholic dioceses and supporting the Church’s pastoral mission in the country.

Its activities cover a wide range of pastoral, social, educational and humanitarian concerns.

Pastoral Plan provides common vision

The CCBI Pastoral Plan, launched in 2024, has sought to provide a common pastoral vision for the Latin Catholic Church in India.

Titled “Journeying Towards a Synodal Church: CCBI Mission 2033,” the plan seeks to guide the Church’s pastoral activities and encourage a more collaborative approach to its mission.

The plan has received appreciation both nationally and internationally, according to the CCBI.

Presenting the document to Pope Leo XIV during the Vatican meeting allowed the conference leadership to share one of its key pastoral initiatives directly with the Holy Father.

Strengthening the relationship with the Vatican

The meeting also highlighted the continuing relationship between the Latin Catholic Church in India and the Vatican.

The delegation’s presentation of religious documents, Indian handicrafts, traditional textiles and regional products reflected both the spiritual and cultural dimensions of the Indian Church.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the Church’s role in responding to changing social realities and pastoral needs.

With nearly 18 million Latin Catholics represented through the CCBI, India’s Latin Catholic Church forms an important part of the country’s wider Christian community.

A meeting carrying spiritual and cultural significance

The Vatican meeting combined several dimensions of the Church’s life in India.

The wood-carved plaque represented India’s Catholic saints and Christian heritage, while the traditional shawls and tea reflected the country’s cultural diversity.

The pastoral documents, meanwhile, highlighted the CCBI’s efforts to develop a common vision for the future of the Latin Catholic Church in India.

The occasion of the Feast of St Augustine added another layer of significance to the meeting, given Pope Leo XIV’s Augustinian background.

The interaction therefore served not only as a formal meeting between Church leaders but also as an opportunity to present India’s religious, cultural and pastoral identity to the Holy Father.

Conclusion

The meeting between Pope Leo XIV and the office bearers of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India at the Vatican marked a significant moment for the Latin Catholic Church in India.

Led by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, the delegation included Archbishop Peter Machado, Archbishop Vincent Aind and Rev. Dr Stephen Alathara. The leaders discussed the life, mission and pastoral concerns of the Church in India during the meeting, which lasted more than 45 minutes.

The delegation presented the Pope with a handcrafted plaque featuring Jesus Christ and 12 saints associated with the Church in India, traditional Indian shawls, regional tea varieties and important CCBI pastoral documents.

Pope Leo XIV’s previous visits to India in 2004 and 2006, during his time as Prior General of the Order of St Augustine, also added significance to the interaction.

With the CCBI representing 132 Latin dioceses, 217 bishops, 564 religious congregations and nearly 18 million Latin Catholics, the Vatican meeting provided an important platform for sharing the Church’s pastoral priorities and India’s rich Catholic heritage.