Asia - Pacific News
Catholic cathedral complex bombed, bishop flees with refugees in worsening Myanmar civil war
The pastoral center of Christ the King Cathedral in Loikaw, Myanmar, was bombed on Nov. 26 and occupied by the... Read more
St. Andrew Dung-Lac and companions: vanguards of the faith in a time of persecution
On Nov. 24, the Church remembers and honors St. Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions, a group of 117 martyrs who... Read more
Archbishop to invite young North Koreans to next World Youth Day in Seoul
Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick shared this week that he plans to invite a youth delegation from North Korea to the... Read more
Hong Kong lawmaker blasts Catholic bishops’ petition for release of Jimmy Lai
“I advise those religious leaders to know when to quit, or else they will have a heavy price to pay,”... Read more
China’s top patriotic bishop stresses unity, sinicization to guide evangelization
After a three-day visit to Hong Kong, Archbishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing stressed the importance of building unity. Read more
Beijing archbishop becomes first to visit Hong Kong since Chinese revolution
The archbishop of Beijing is visiting Hong Kong in a trip that marks a historic first since the Chinese Communist... Read more
Shanghai bishop calls on faithful to support Chinese Community Party’s ‘sinicization’ of Church
Bishop Joseph Shen Bin was unilaterally appointed as bishop of Shanghai in April without a papal mandate. Read more
China’s new ‘Patriotic Education Law’ places further limits on religious instruction
The new law would require churches and religious groups to adapt their educational activities to promote the party’s official ideology. Read more
Catholic bishops call on Hong Kong government to release pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai
Ten bishops from around the world have called for the release of Lai, who was originally arrested in August 2020... Read more
Moscow Archdiocese urges return of memorial for bishop imprisoned by Stalin regime
Earlier this month, plaques dedicated to political and religious prisoners who died at Vladimir Central Prison under the communist regime... Read more
Vatican puts 35 Catholic ‘martyrs of Kandhamal’ in India on road to sainthood
The Christians were killed in the 2008 Christian persecution that took place in the remote jungle district of the eastern... Read more
Pope Francis appoints long-standing parish priest as New Zealand bishop
Pope Francis on Wednesday appointed Father Richard Laurenson as the new bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton in northern New... Read more
Thousands mourn Indian Cardinal Telesphore Toppo at funeral Mass
Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, Asia’s first tribal cardinal who died on Oct. 4, was remembered for his humility, simplicity, and... Read more
Pope Francis remembers Cardinal Toppo of India for ‘zeal for the spread of the Gospel’
Cardinal Telesphore Toppo was the “first and only cardinal of the tribal communities of Asia,” said Archbishop Andrews Thazhath. Read more
Taiwan’s ambassador to the Vatican: Better to prevent a war than stop one afterward
Speaking at a reception on Oct. 5, Ambassador Matthew Lee underlined that “Taiwan will do whatever we can to remain... Read more
Indian priest who joined Hindu nationalist party relieved of duties by bishop
The priest’s action took place at a time of rising persecution of Christians in India. Read more
India’s Christian rights network not hopeful after meeting with minorities commission
“While the positive is that there is some conversation, I do not set hopes very high,” said John Dayal, an... Read more
Vatican launches investigation into Australian bishop accused of child sex abuse
Former bishop Christopher Saunders of the Diocese of Broome has been accused of sexually assaulting indigenous men and boys. Read more
Chinese priest convicted of ‘fraud’ for refusal to recognize state-sanctioned Church
Father Joseph Yang Xiaoming was found to have violated the law after he refused to register with the state-sanctioned Chinese... Read more
Cardinal Zuppi meets with Chinese official to discuss peace in Ukraine
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi met with Chinese Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read more
