Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) will start tomorrow in Indonesia until 26 July. The last time Indonesia hosted the gathering was in 1990, 36 years ago, in Bandung.
About 150 bishops from 29 Asian countries will take part in what is the most important regional meeting of the Catholic Church in Asia, along with representatives of the Holy See, secretaries of FABC offices, theologians, pastoral experts, and delegates invited from Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania.
Participants are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, with the opening ceremony on Tuesday, 21 July, and the closing session on Sunday, 26 July.
All the main liturgical celebrations will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Jakarta, while the plenary sessions will take place at the centrally located Hotel Mulia Senayan.
The theme chosen for the Assembly, The Call to Synodal Conversion and the Mission of Being Bridges and Bridge-Builders in Asia, was inspired by the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John: “You will see greater things than this” (Jn 1:50).
Pope Leo XIV appointed Card Oswald Gracias, Archbishop Emeritus of Bombay, as his special envoy to preside over the opening Eucharist on Tuesday. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Damao and FABC President, will deliver the main report, while Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation (Section for First Evangelisation and New Particular Churches), will lead a day of prayer and meditation on synodal spirituality.
During the week-long meeting, the prelates will gather for prayers, dialogue and communal discernment, reflecting on the mission of the Church in the context of the social, cultural, political and religious realities shaping contemporary Asia.
In addition to the plenary sessions, the assembly includes regional discussions, panels on synodal leadership and pastoral practice, as well as exchanges to boost cooperation between bishops’ conferences throughout Asia.
The Assembly will also include leading reports by Czech theologian Mgr Tomáš Halík and Malaysian Dr Choong Pui Yee, together with “Conversation in the Spirit” sessions dedicated to the opportunities and challenges facing the Church across the continent.
Next Saturday, participants will receive a special message from Pope Leo XIV before examining the draft final message and the document for the implementation of the Assembly's recommendations.
On Sunday, the Assembly will end with a concluding Eucharist at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Jakarta.
After the Mass, the bishops will visit Istiqlal Mosque by crossing the Friendship Tunnel, a symbolic passage linking the cathedral and the mosque that has become an international symbol of Indonesia's commitment to interfaith harmony.
Renewing the mission of the Church in Asia
For Fr John Mi Shen, executive secretary of the FABC Office for Social Communication, the Plenary Assembly represents much more than an important church gathering.
This “is a moment for the Churches of Asia to listen to one another, discern together, and renew their shared missionary commitment. Through the ministry of communication, we hope to accompany this journey of faith and make its reflections and fruits accessible to Catholics across the continent and beyond, fostering greater communion, participation, and mission," he said.
For his part, Bishop Samson Shukardin, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, expressed hope that the Assembly will produce concrete pastoral guidance for the Church in Asia, noting that the Church needs a pastoral roadmap that goes beyond official documents and translates into practical initiatives capable of impacting people’s lives.
He also hopes that the Assembly will strengthen cooperation between bishops’ conferences, promote regional training programmes for young people and future Church leaders, and enable the Catholic Church in Asia to express itself with a stronger and more united voice in the defence of human rights and religious freedom.
Indonesia showcases interfaith harmony
The FABC Assembly is also being watched with interest by Indonesian authorities. The Minister of Religious Affairs, Dr Nasaruddin Umar, called the Assembly a continuation of the spirit of peace promoted by the historic apostolic visit of Pope Francis to Indonesia in September 2024.
The minister, who is also the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, said that the presence of Catholic Church leaders from all over Asia and other continents offers a valuable opportunity to deepen interfaith dialogue and to present Indonesia as a nation committed to peace, tolerance and unity diversity.
“We want all delegates to experience peace and comfort throughout their stay in Indonesia,” Umar said.
According to the minister, hosting the FABC Plenary Assembly is not only a religious event, but also an important element in Indonesia's soft power diplomacy, which highlights the country's long tradition of tolerance, dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
In addition to reflecting on synodality and fraternity, the Assembly will also address the main issues facing Asia today, including poverty, social justice, migration and climate change, as the Church seeks to strengthen its witness and mission in one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse regions.
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