FABC

A mandate entrusted to over 800 delegates to make Jesus present through their lives in their own countries brought to a close the Great Pilgrimage of Hope, which saw the Churches of the continent gather in Malaysia. Cardinal David: ‘Evangelisation in Asia cannot be shouted: it is relational, respectful, contemplative.’ Card. Ferrao: ‘The hunger for God is deep. The yearning for justice is real. The thirst for meaning among our young people is intense.’

In Penang, 800 delegates from churches across the continent gathered for a ‘pilgrimage of hope’ in the Jubilee year. Cardinal Tagle: like the Magi, we reject the despair of today's Herods. Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching: ‘We are a minority. But the Lord asks us too not to shut ourselves in our churches and go out to serve our brothers and sisters.’

The First National Safeguarding Conference, themed “Our Mission of Safeguarding: A Journey of Hope and Compassion,” seen as more than a series of lectures and workshops. It became a pilgrimage of conscience, a reckoning with past failures, and a bold step towards ecclesial renewal.

The Marian Centre in Tàpao (Vietnam) recently hosted a meeting of youth ministry leaders, promoted by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences. Unemployment, identity crises, and cultural pressures are among the main challenges facing the continent's younger generations. The aim is to have a “close, compassionate, and patient” Church that stands by them.

Run by the Jesuit Conference of Asia-Pacific as a fruit of the Second Vatican Council, the EAPI promotes continuing education by welcoming priests, religious sisters, and lay people from various countries each semester. Its courses are a valuable tool for inculturating the faith in local contexts. FABC Chairman Cardinal Ferrao thanked the institute for its contribution to the missionary work of the Church.

The Archbishop of Goa and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences reflects with AsiaNews on Pope Prevost’s inaugural homily: “Love for all, unity in diversity, closeness to the poor and to cultures – this must be our way of being Church. We await him in our beloved India. And we will invite him to the FABC Assembly scheduled for 2026 in Malaysia.”

The Central Committee of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences met in Bangkok to prepare the event scheduled next November in Malaysia. The symbolic image is the result of a competition in which 54 artists from all over Asia took part.

The archbishop of Goa was elected today in Bangkok by the heads of the continent's Bishops' Conferences. Next January he will become the third Indian to head the collegial body, taking over from Card Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, who led the organisation since 2018. Created in 1970, the latter serves as a point of reference today for the synodal journey.

Manila-based theologian and executive secretary of the Fabc's Office for Doctrinal Issues was chosen by Pope Francis among the ten Asian non-bishops who will take part in the October assembly. She tells AsiaNews of her impressions of the synodal journey, "It has energized me, because I see the conversion and reshaping of the Church toward a more missionary orientation."

The list of participants in the 16th Ordinary General Assembly in Rome next October was announced today. Momoko Nishimura, a consecrated woman from Yokohama, is one of nine delegates who will chair the work. Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong is one of Pope Francis’s picks. Unlike 2018, no official Catholic bishop will come from mainland China.

The umbrella network released its annual report highlighting its struggle against the scourge of human trafficking. In Asia, 9,329 victims received protection last year thanks to the group’s work in 20 countries. A Thai nun tells her story.

Elected by the General Assembly of the confederation of charitable bodies of the Catholic Churches worldwide. His first words, "On the front lines to welcome, accompany, serve and defend the poor and vulnerable." Bangladeshi layman Benedict Alo D'Rozario confirmed as president of Caritas Asia.