 Pope Benedict named him a member of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts on 6 May 2008  and of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on 6 July 2010, 

On 18 September 2008 in Washington, D.C., Gracias underwent surgery for a rare form of cancer.He recovered completely.Gracias was elected Secretary General of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) by the presidents of its 19 constituent bishops conferences representing 28 Asian countries.