Cardinal Oswald Gracias was re-elected today as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) at its ongoing 30th Plenary Assembly in Bangalore.

As an affirmation of his sterling leadership qualities, Cardinal Gracias, who is also the Archbishop of Bombay, was given a further two-year term, said CBCI spokesman Father Babu Joseph.

Major Archbishop Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Church has also been re-elected as vice president.

Archbishop George Valiamattam of Tellicherry archdiocese, representing the Syro-Malabar Church, has been elected as second vice president.

CBCI secretary general Albert D’ Souza, Archbishop of Agra retains his post.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India is made up of the Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches.

Cardinal Gracias was born in Mumbai on December 24, 1944.

A canon law expert, he served as Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay and Archbishop of Agra, before being appointed Archbishop of Bombay in 2006.

On January 1, 2012 he took over as secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC).