NESCOM, Guwahati | 9 February 2026 

Northeast India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC) congratulates His Grace Most Rev. Linus Neli, Archbishop of Imphal, on his election as the Chairman of Caritas India, the social and humanitarian arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI).

Archbishop Linus is notably the first former Administrator of Caritas India to be elected as its Chairman. He is also the first indigenous priest from Northeast India to hold a Doctorate in Canon Law. At present, he serves as the Chairman of the Northeast Regional Youth Commission.

The news was first shared in the region by the Deputy Secretary of NEIRBC, Rev. Dr. Fr. G. P. Amalraj, following which congratulatory messages have continued to pour in from across the Northeast.

The election took place during the 37th CBCI General Body Meeting held at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, from 4 to 10 February 2026.

Earlier, on 7 February 2026, the CBCI elected its new office bearers for a two-year term. Cardinal Poola Anthony of the Archdiocese of Hyderabad was elected President of the CBCI. Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos of Tiruvalla was elected Vice President–First, while Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt of Kottayam was elected Vice President–Second. Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi was re-elected as Secretary General of the CBCI.

Archbishop Linus Neli previously served as the Administrator of Caritas India (2013–2014) and as Associate Director at St. John’s Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru (2004–2007).

Earlier, Bishop Lumen Monteiro of Agartala, also from the Northeast, served as Chairman of Caritas India and presently serves as the Health Care Chairman of the CBCI.

Established in 1962, Caritas India serves the poor and vulnerable through humanitarian assistance, disaster response, development programmes, and community-based initiatives across the country. It is part of Caritas Internationalis, a global confederation serving in nearly 200 countries.