Asia - Pacific News

Barricades are set up at a military checkpoint on the Tongil bridge, the road leading to North Korea’s Kaesong city, in the border city of Paju on Oct. 9, 2024. North Korea’s army said on Oct. 9 it was moving to “permanently shut off and block the southern border” with Seoul and had informed the U.S. military to prevent an accidental clash.

Archbishop warns of diminishing hope for peace as North Korea escalates military threats

Oct 14, 2024

By Daniel Payne

A South Korean prelate said Catholics continue to pray for peace and hope but that “hope is fading” for reunification... Read more

Cardinal Philip Neri Ferrão, the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), launches the migrant portal on Sept. 27, 2024, in Bangalore, India.

‘Duty to accompany migrants’: Indian bishops launch portal to support nation’s immigrants

Oct 8, 2024

By Anto Akkara

The digital portal was launched on Sept. 27 in Bangalore by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India ahead of... Read more

Nuns from the Missionaries of Charity hold candles in recognition of the May 3 annivesary of ethnic violence in Manipur, India.

Christians face arbitrary arrests, grave religious freedom violations in India

Oct 8, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

According to a recent report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Christians in India are facing increasingly... Read more

The archbishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Joseph Arshad, addresses the persecuted Christian community of Jaranwala in August 2023. Twenty-one Catholic churches, Bibles, and family homes were set on fire.

Pakistani woman sentenced to death for allegedly blaspheming Muhammed

Oct 3, 2024

By Andrés Henríquez

A Christian mother of four has been sentenced to death by a judge in Pakistan for allegedly spreading blasphemous messages... Read more

“Sydney is a very multicultural community,” Bishop Danny Meagher said. “We invite people from all over the world to be part of this occasion of grace.”

Auxiliary bishop of Sydney: ‘The Eucharist invites us to be part of the mission of Christ’

Sep 18, 2024

By Diego López Marina

Auxiliary Bishop Danny Meagher of Sydney is already talking up the preparations for the Australian city to host the next... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to Archbishop William Seng Chye Goh (left) after he elevated him to cardinal during a consistory to create 20 new cardinals on Aug. 27, 2022, at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

Pope Francis’ visit to Singapore ‘has revived the faith of our people,’ cardinal says

Sep 17, 2024

By Andrés Henríquez

Cardinal William Goh, archbishop of Singapore, hailed the positive results of the recently concluded papal visit to his country. Read more

A worshipper waves the flag of China as Pope Francis leaves following the weekly general audience on June 12, 2019, at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Pope’s Asia visit draws attention to Holy See’s delicate China diplomacy

Sep 16, 2024

By AC Wimmer

As the Vatican-China deal nears renewal, Pope Francis’ Asia tour sparked debate on the future of the Holy See’s ties... Read more

Cardinal Jaime Sin hosted both of Pope John Paul II’s visits to the Philippines in 1981 and 1995.

New museum in Philippines honors Cardinal Jaime Sin, a ‘voice’ against corruption

Sep 14, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Cardinal Jaime Sin’s family residence will be home to a museum in his honor and called the “Museo Kardinal.” Read more

Pope Francis speaks to journalists aboard the papal plane during an in-flight press conference on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, on his return from his nearly two-week tour of Southeast Asia.

Pope Francis: U.S. presidential election a choice between ‘the lesser evil’

Sep 13, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Speaking aboard the papal plane, Pope Francis encouraged U.S. Catholics to vote with their conscience in the upcoming Nov. 5... Read more

Pope Francis addresses elderly and sick people on his final day in Singapore on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, marking the conclusion of his 12-day, four-country apostolic journey to Asia and Oceania — the longest trip of his pontificate to date.

Pope Francis concludes apostolic journey with elderly and youth of Singapore

Sep 13, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The interreligious meeting concluded his 12-day, four-country apostolic journey to Southeast Asia and Oceania.    Read more

Pope Francis presides beneath a crucifix at Mass at Singapore National Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024

Pope Francis to Singapore’s Catholics: Follow St. Francis Xavier in spreading God’s love

Sep 12, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pontiff celebrated Mass in the Singapore National Stadium, a national landmark, on the last full day of his trip... Read more

Pope Francis addresses leaders at the National University of Singapore on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.

Pope Francis praises Singapore’s spirit of progress, reminds leaders not to exclude the weak

Sep 12, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The pope expressed his admiration for the dedication of the country’s past and present leaders to build unity amid a... Read more

Singaporeans welcoming Pope Francis to their country on Sept. 11, 2024.

Catholic Church is in the midst of a growth spurt in Singapore

Sep 11, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The Catholic Church in Singapore is considered one of the most dynamic and vital in Southeast Asia. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at the Dili Convention Center in East Timor, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.

Pope Francis leaves East Timor: ‘I’ll never forget your smiles’

Sep 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ event with young adults was his last stop in East Timor before flying four hours to Singapore for... Read more

Pope Francis during Mass at the Esplanade of Taci Tolu in Dili, Timor-Leste, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024.

Pope Francis’ Mass in East Timor draws 600,000 Catholics

Sep 10, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope celebrated the youthfulness of East Timor at the outdoor Mass where the crowd appeared like a sea of... Read more

The faithful gather at the site of Father Arul Das' death in the Jamboni jungle on Sept. 2, 2024.

Thousands gather in jungle for celebration honoring Catholic priest killed in eastern India

Sep 10, 2024

By Anto Akkara

The priest was shot and pierced with arrows in his thatched chapel-house during the early hours of Sept. 2, 1999. Read more

Pope Francis blesses children at the Irmas Alma School in Timor-Leste on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024

Pope Francis in East Timor says children show us how to ‘be cared for by God’

Sep 10, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“This is what one finds here: love. Without love this cannot be understood. And so we understand the love of... Read more

Pope Francis arrives at the meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians, and catechists in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Dili, East Timor, Sept. 10, 2024.

Catholics in East Timor welcome Pope Francis to their island ‘oasis’ of religious vocations

Sep 10, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In East Timor, a country where 98% of the population is Catholic, Pope Francis was met with great enthusiasm on... Read more

Pope Francis arrives in East Timor on Sept. 9, 2024.

Pope Francis arrives in East Timor, Asia’s youngest and most Catholic country

Sep 9, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Francis is the first pope to visit East Timor since it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002, becoming the first... Read more

Pope Francis greets the crowd at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.

Pope to youth in Papua New Guinea: Words, gestures of love overcome ‘ugly fruit of hatred’

Sep 9, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The pope emphasized that “the language of love, the language of closeness, the language of service” is what can unite... Read more