His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos is nominated to the National Integration Council (NIC)

Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, is nominated to the National Integration Council (NIC) by Dr Manmohan Singh, the Honorable Prime Minister of India.

The National Integration Council originated in a conference convened by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in September–October 1961. The NIC met for the first time in June 1962. The purpose of the Council is to find ways to counter problems that divide the country due to communalism, casteism, regionalism and fundamentalism. It reviews national issues and makes recommendations to foster the integrity of the nation. His Grace Benedict Mar Gregorios of venerable memory, the Metropolitan of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, was a member of the NIC

His Beatitude Baselios Cleemis Catholicos was appointed Cardinal of the Catholic Church by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on 24 October 2012. His Beatitude, the youngest among the College of Cardinals, is a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. His Beatitude is also the President of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) and Vice-President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI).

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is proud of this nomination in service of the nation and it extends its hearty felicitations to His Beatitude as a new member of the National Integration Council.