South East Asia

The ordination of the young pastor of the large diocese in southern Thailand, the first priest from the Thai Missionary Institute to be called to lead a local Church. ‘Go and preach’ is the motto chosen in a context where Catholics make up less than 0.1% of the population. Fr Pelosin: ‘A moment of grace for our community. It will help everyone to grow in the missionary spirit’.

Forced to abandon the cathedral in November 2023 due to fighting, the bishop of Loikaw continues to care for the faithful of his diocese, now scattered in 200 refugee camps in remote areas. Speaking to AsiaNews, he talked about the tragedy of young people fighting and reflects on how these communities in Kayah State, despite their great difficulties, today remind him of the first Christians. For him, the Church is where people share and love each other.

Official data for the first half of 2024 confirm the upward trend, with further strong growth by 2030, fuelled mostly by migrants filling the local labour market, up by 5 per cent over the previous year. This is fuelling a debate in society, and not only over resource and infrastructure planning.

Protests mounted by a local politician in Pare-Pare against the opening of a new school. The Gamaliel School's Foundation: We have all the permits and our classes are open to students of all denominations. Muslim influencer in defence of the school appeals to President Joko Widodo: ‘Show that unity in diversity paraded in front of Pope Francis are not just words’.

In a conversation with Jesuits that took place in Jakarta and was published today by ‘La Civiltà Cattolica’, the pontiff - responding to a question from a Burmese confrere - recounted that he had asked for the release of the Nobel Peace Prize winner imprisoned in a location unknown to her own family. ‘In Myanmar today one cannot remain silent: the future of the country must be peace based on respect for a democratic order’.

Signed by President Marcos, the measure aims to strengthen the protection of the rights of workers embarked on ships around the world. The Philippines is the country with the most people employed in this sector. An intervention also made urgent by the multiplication of attacks on commercial shipping in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

The outgoing president has lifted a ban that had been in place for more than 20 years and was introduced to protect the ecosystem and the land. In justifying the decision, he speaks of a ‘correction’ to the previous rule: it would not be sand, but ‘ocean sediments’. Former fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti expresses her ‘deep concern’.

Malaysia has been shaken by an investigation into sexual offences against minors in some 20 homes run by a company linked to the late preacher whose movement was outlawed by Mahathir in 1994. Also arrested were the founder's son and the managing director of the group, which is present in 20 countries and also has operations in London, Paris, Dubai and Mecca.

Indonesians will be able to visit it upon request and with limited access for a maximum of 300 people per day. Only some areas can be visited, smoking is prohibited. Outgoing President Widodo in the new centre where he will spend his last days in office. The completion of the work, which should be completed within the next two decades, is still far off.

The magistrates' want to investigate their role in the death of 78 young Muslims who were locked up in military vehicles. The incident took place in the far south of the country, the scene of separatist and sectarian tensions for decades. However, the case is under a statute of limitations and risks resurfacing the clash between the ruling party and the military and nationalist establishment.

In the general audience held today in St Peter's Square, Francis retraced the stages of the apostolic journey that in recent days has taken him to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. "I met living communities that grow by attraction. It gladdened my heart to be able to spend some time with the missionaries and catechists of today’.

As connectivity is restored, the extent of the devastation becomes clear. The dioceses of Taunggyi and Kengtung (Shan State) are completely cut off. Local sources say the country’s military junta lacks the resources to deal with the situation and people are left to fend for themselves. Meanwhile, the Fondazione PIME has reactivated its Myanmar Emergency fund.