Vatican City, Aug 21, 2010 / 07:59 am
Ten days from now, hundreds of representatives from Catholic organizations in Asia will descend on the capital city of Korea for a congress to examine evangelization on their continent.
The Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) has announced that the Congress of Asian Catholic Laity will be held in Seoul, South Korea from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5 under the theme "Proclaiming Jesus Christ in Asia Today.” The congress will bring 400 hundred people together, including representatives and bishops from 20 countries from within the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences and delegations from 35 different Asian Catholic lay associations, movements and communities.
According to a statement distributed through the Holy See's Press Office, the PCL initiative aims to strengthen local Church ties with Rome.
"The decision to focus on Asia expresses a missionary concern for a continent that ... is now emerging as a key player in an age of immense transformation," the statement said.