India’s Bishops Elect First Dalit President, Demand End to Conversion Laws

February 11, 2026 World News

CBCI
Archbishop Andrews Thazhath (third from the left), outgoing president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), addresses a press conference on Feb. 3, 2026, before the start of the general body meeting in Bengaluru, India.

Cardinal Anthony Poola has become the first Dalit to lead India’s Catholic bishops as the conference calls for repeal of anti-conversion laws violating religious freedom.

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