Asia

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Cardinals-elect Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, SVD; Archbishop Jaime Spengler, OFM; and Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbohe discuss the contributions of the Church outside Europe during a Synod on Synodality press briefing on Oct. 8, 2024.

New cardinals say Europe is becoming the Catholic Church’s new ‘peripheries’

Oct 8, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“When the Holy Father is talking about peripheries, I think the peripheries are moving. ... Maybe the peripheries are moving... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.

Pope Francis says the Catholic Church is ‘more alive’ outside of Europe

Sep 18, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In his first general audience since returning from the longest international trip of his pontificate, the pope expressed gratitude to... Read more

The Tuan Ma statue is paraded around Larantuka City during the Semana Santa Holy Week celebrations on Flores Island.

3 Marian holy sites in the Muslim nation of Indonesia

Aug 11, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Records dating back to the 16th century indicate that the first Catholic traditions in Indonesia were established following the first... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims at his General Audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Vatican releases schedule for Pope Francis’ two-week trip to Asia and Oceania

Jul 5, 2024

By Courtney Mares

At the age of 87, the Holy Father is set to take on his most ambitious international trip yet to... Read more

Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni Church, an Indian-Mughal style Catholic church in Medan, Indonesia.

Pope Francis’ Indonesia visit to ‘strengthen message of tolerance, unity, and world peace’

Apr 15, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The Indonesian government has confirmed the country will be the first destination in the 87-year-old pontiff’s apostolic journey to the... Read more

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão on Aug. 27, 2022, in Vatican City.

Indian Cardinal Ferrão to head Asian bishops’ conference amid Church’s continued growth

Feb 26, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Despite a sharp decline in Church membership in Western Europe and North America, the Church in Asia has experienced continued... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on March 22, 2023.

Pope Francis says he will travel to Mongolia

Apr 15, 2023

By Courtney Mares

A trip to Mongolia would make Pope Francis the first pope to visit the Asian country that shares a 2,880-mile... Read more

Cardinal Jose Advincula (right) during the his installation as new prelate of the Archdiocese of Manila on June 24, 2021.

Asian Church leaders vow to listen to faithful as synodal process starts  

Oct 18, 2021

By Jose Torres, Jr.

Church leaders across Asia vowed to listen to the faithful as the diocesan phase of the Synod on Synodality started... Read more

Pope Francis greets members of the Rohingya Muslim community in Dhaka, Bangladesh Dec. 1, 2017.

Pope's latest prayer video highlights religious persecution in Asia

Jan 5, 2018

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis has kicked off the new year by shedding light on the plight of persecuted religious minorities in Asia,... Read more

For global 'peripheries,' poverty can lead to online exploitation

Oct 8, 2017

By Elise Harris

While the challenge of protecting children online is one faced throughout the world, Church leaders from Asia and Africa said... Read more

Can South Korean Catholics evangelize Asia?

Nov 10, 2016

Catholics in South Korea have a unique position to evangelize, one scholar says.  Read more

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Amid digital media trends, Vatican looks to learn from Asian strengths

Nov 17, 2015

The Catholic Church can learn from Asian trends in social media to help build communications networks and advance evangelization, a... Read more

Asian Conference of Secular Institutes officers, in Mumbai.

Secular institutes to explore evangelization in Far East

Oct 16, 2014

The general assembly of secular institutes in Asia, being held later this month in South Korea, is committed to finding... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims as he arrives for the closing Mass of the 6th Asian Youth Day Aug. 17, 2014.

'Asian youth, wake up!' Church needs your witness, Pope says

Aug 17, 2014

Addressing thousands of young people from across Asia, Pope Francis emphasized the urgent need to “wake up” and spread Christ’s... Read more

Mother Maria Goretti Lee's community of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres

Blossoming religious order in France sees global impact

Apr 14, 2014

By Jan Bentz

A missionary order founded in the middle Ages in France is sending their burgeoning number of vocations from Asia and... Read more