Asia - Pacific News

A house church in Beijing, China.

China’s new ‘Smart Religion’ app requires faithful to register to attend worship services

Mar 7, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

A human rights group said the app is part of the communist government’s efforts to “strictly manage religion in a... Read more

Cardinal George Pell’s funeral Mass drew thousands of mourners to Sydney’s St. Mary’s Cathedral Feb. 2, 2023.

Thousands mourn Cardinal Pell at Sydney funeral: ‘Be not afraid’ was his motto 

Feb 2, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Civic leaders, friends, and members of Cardinal George Pell’s family remembered the Australian cardinal’s dedication to the Church. Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen, former bishop of Hong Hong, attends the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Jan. 5, 2023, in St. Peter's Square.

Cardinal Zen hospitalized in Hong Kong after returning from Benedict XVI’s funeral

Feb 1, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The 91-year-old cardinal wrote on his blog on Jan. 31 that he is receiving treatment in the hospital after experiencing... Read more

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Japanese prime minister vows to take action on declining birthrate

Jan 25, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently warned that Japan’s birthrate — one of the lowest in the world — is... Read more

Cardinal George Pell.

Church in Australia reacts with ‘shock,’ sadness at news of Cardinal Pell’s death

Jan 10, 2023

By AC Wimmer

Cardinal George Pell, prefect emeritus of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, died Tuesday in Rome at the age of... Read more

More than 100,000 faithful gathered Jan. 8, 2023, to venerate the “Black Nazarene” in the Philippines after a two-year suspension of the traditional procession due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

‘Black Nazarene’ procession in the Philippines draws over 100,000 two years after pandemic

Jan 10, 2023

By CNA Staff

The origin of the image dates back to 1607, when the wooden image representing Christ bent under the weight of... Read more

Children warming their hands over a wood-fired oven in Nagorno-Karabakh

Warning of ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ in Nagorno-Karabakh

Dec 30, 2022

By Madeleine Teahan

A leading politician serving the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has strongly echoed Pope Francis’ concerns about the humanitarian situation in... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, speaks at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.

Cardinal Zen appeals conviction in Hong Kong court

Dec 14, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Joseph Zen has filed an appeal with Hong Kong’s High Court following his conviction last month for failing to... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen.

Hong Kong court convicts Cardinal Zen and five other democracy advocates

Nov 25, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Joseph Zen and five others were found guilty on Friday of failing to register a fund that helped pay... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former bishop of Hong Kong, pictured on Feb. 18, 2021.

Verdict in Cardinal Zen’s trial expected on Friday

Nov 19, 2022

By Courtney Mares

One of the pro-democracy advocates on trial with Cardinal Joseph Zen was recently arrested under Hong Kong’s national security law. Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen (right)  arrives at a court for his trial in Hong Kong on Sept. 26, 2022.

Cardinal Zen trial update: Defense calls for charges to be dismissed

Oct 31, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Lawyers defending Cardinal Joseph Zen and five other Hong Kong democracy activists took the floor Monday in the West Kowloon... Read more

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South Korea’s Catholic bishops pray for Halloween crowd surge victims

Oct 31, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Catholic bishops in South Korea offered condolences to the bereaved families of the more than 150 people killed in a... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen arrives at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on May 24, 2022, in Hong Kong, China.

Cardinal Zen’s trial reopens in Hong Kong days after Vatican-China deal renewal

Oct 27, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The trial of Cardinal Joseph Zen resumed in Hong Kong on Wednesday, days after the Vatican announced the renewal of... Read more

Pope Francis on Oct. 12, 2022

Amid claim of coming ‘Asian millennium,’ Pope Francis tells bishops to discern Holy Spirit

Oct 12, 2022

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis on Wednesday called on Asia’s Catholic bishops, currently gathered in Thailand, to discern what the Holy Spirit is... Read more

Andrew Thorburn (seen here in a 2015 photo), a former Australian banking executive and current chairman of church affiliated with the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, stepped down Oct. 4, 2022, one day after being appointed chief executive of an Australian rules football club due to public backlash.

Christians excluded from Australian sports? Bishops raise alarm after exec resigns

Oct 7, 2022

By AC Wimmer

One day after being appointed chief executive of an Australian rules football club, Andrew Thorburn stepped down from the role... Read more

Pope Francis prays on St. Peter's Square, Oct. 5, 2022

Pope Francis mourns 23 children and several adults killed in Thailand day care attack

Oct 7, 2022

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis has expressed deep sorrow at the news of a deadly rampage at a day care center in Thailand... Read more

Carlos Ximenes Felipe Belo, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for efforts related to East Timor, speaks during an Indonesian Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) public hearing in Jakarta, March 26 March.

Vatican confirms East Timor bishop under ‘restrictions’ related to sexual abuse of minors

Sep 29, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

Two alleged victims, now in their 40s, say the bishop abused his position of power over boys in the area... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen.

Cardinal Zen’s second day in court: Magistrate rules there is sufficient evidence

Sep 28, 2022

By Courtney Mares

On Tuesday, Cardinal Joseph Zen’s second day in court in Hong Kong, the magistrate ruled that there was sufficient evidence... Read more

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A handful of Catholic leaders and others voice support for Cardinal Zen as his trial begins

Sep 26, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell, Courtney Mares

These are Catholic leaders, scholars, and human rights activists who have publicly shown their support for Zen as his trial... Read more

Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral in Broome, Australia.

Vatican opens canonical investigation into Australian bishop

Sep 26, 2022

By AC Wimmer

The Vatican has appointed Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane to oversee an investigation into former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders. Read more