Hyderabad’s Cardinal Poola Anthony Elected President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India

Cardinal Poola Anthony , Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad , has been elected President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) at its 37th General Body Meeting. The election places him at the helm of the national body that coordinates the pastoral, social and institutional work of the Catholic Church across India’s dioceses and rites.

Cardinal Poola Anthony’s journey is often noted for its roots. He hails from a rural village in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh and comes from a Dalit (Scheduled Caste) background , a fact that has given his rise particular resonance within the Church. After decades of pastoral and administrative service, he was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad on November 19, 2020, by Pope Francis , and was later elevated to the College of Cardinals in August 2022.

As CBCI President, Cardinal Poola Anthony will serve a two-year term , with the possibility of re-election for one additional term under the conference’s statutes. The role is primarily one of coordination and representation chairing national meetings, building consensus among bishops, and engaging with government and civil society while individual diocesan bishops retain authority within their own jurisdictions.

Beyond national leadership, his position carries global significance. Cardinal Poola Anthony is one of only four Cardinals from India , a small group entrusted with advising the Pope and, when the time comes, participating in the conclave to elect a new Pope .

From Rayalaseema to national leadership, Cardinal Poola Anthony’s election reflects continuity in pastoral governance and the Church’s broader emphasis on inclusion, service and unity in a diverse and changing India.