Church in Asia

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The Apostolic Administration in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, made up of priests, religious, and laypeople, gather in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, during Easter Week, April 2-3, 2024, to pray and discuss the work of the small but growing  Catholic community spread throughout the Central Asian country. Father Anthony Corcoran (pictured in glasses holding a blue pen and paper) and Caritas representative Sher Abdugapirov (glasses and light blue hoodie) can be seen in this photo.

Church in Kyrgyzstan: a ‘blossoming bud’ growing in the peripheries of the world

Apr 8, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The Apostolic Administration of Kyrgyzstan convened a two-day meeting April 2-3 in the capital of Bishkek to pray and discuss... 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 gives the weekly Angelus address on Aug. 27, 2023.

Pope Francis asks for prayers as he travels to Mongolia, ‘the heart of Asia’

Aug 28, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope will travel approximately 5,600 miles to Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. Read more

Cardinal Charles Bo of Myanmar

Cardinal Bo: Called to be a voice for human rights in Myanmar

Sep 9, 2021

By Katie Yoder

Cardinal Charles Bo said that one of the “fruits of the culture” in Asia, particularly in Myanmar, is that citizens... Read more

Cardinal Luis Tagle visits a refugee camp in Bangladesh, December 2018.

Evangelization begins with listening, Cardinal Tagle says

Dec 10, 2019

Listening is the first step in evangelization, the newly-appointed prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples said Tuesday... Read more

Japanese pilgrims at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, Oct. 11, 2017.

In Japan, Catholic Church plans to investigate sex abuse

Apr 13, 2019

Catholic bishops in Japan have said they will investigate reports of clergy sex abuse of minors dating back at least... 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

Pope Francis at the Divine Mercy Vigil in St. Peter's Square, April 2, 2016.

It's official: Pope Francis to visit Myanmar, Bangladesh in November

Aug 28, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Monday the Vatican confirmed rumors that have been swirling the past few weeks about a papal visit to Myanmar... Read more

Cardinal Luis Tagle takes part in a conference at the Pontifical Council For Laity in Rome on Feb. 6, 2015.

How Cardinal Tagle thinks the Church can better reach Asian cultures

Mar 3, 2015

By Matt Hadro

Asia poses unique challenges to the spreading of the Catholic faith, and the Church must respond by evangelizing through personal... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun speaks at the Asianews Conference at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.

What's the biggest threat to Asia? Atheism, this cardinal says

Nov 21, 2014

By Elise Harris

Hong Kong's retired prelate Cardinal Joseph Zen said that amid decades of communist rule in China, human values are at... Read more

Thai parish seminar on marriage and family enrichment at Sam Phran.

Holy Family the model for all families, Thai couples learn

Oct 8, 2014

Married couples in Thailand recently met at a workshop reflecting on pastoral challenges confronting their vocation, which emphazised the role... Read more

Don't reduce the faith to easy answers, Pope warns bishops

Aug 16, 2014

A deep understanding of our identity as Christians is needed to combat the modern tendency to reduce the faith to... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, June 18, 2014.

Dates for Pope's trip to Sri Lanka and Philippines confirmed

Jul 29, 2014

The Holy See Press Office confirmed today that Pope Francis will be traveling to Sri Lanka Jan. 12-15 and to... Read more