Asia - Pacific News

Bishop Richard Umbers.

Australian bishop hails U.S. Eucharistic Congress as model for global Catholic renewal

Jul 23, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The Sydney auxiliary bishop, observing the Indianapolis event, sees it as inspiration for Australia’s hosting of the 2028 International Eucharistic... Read more

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Church leaders praise Pakistan amendment raising legal age for marriage of Christians

Jul 22, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Pakistan’s National Assembly unanimously approved the raising of the minimum legal age for marriage to 18 earlier this month. Read more

A synodal Mass in progress at St. Dominic Church at Aluva in the Ernakulam Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church on July14, 2024.

Syro-Malabar Church in India initiates plan to resolve bitter liturgical feud 

Jul 17, 2024

By Anto Akkara

“The Holy Qurbana [Mass] should not be the reason for division in the Church,” Father Antony Vadakkekara, Church spokesperson, told... Read more

This photo taken on Jan. 15, 2024, shows a Chinese flag fluttering below a cross on a Christian church in Pingtan in China’s southeast Fujian province.

Top Catholic app reportedly removed from app store in China

Jul 16, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Alex Jones, Hallow’s founder, posted on social media Monday afternoon that the app “just got kicked out of the App... Read more

Filipino newlyweds dance in the street during a reception in Baleno town, Masbate island province in the central Philippines, April 15, 2007.

Filipino bishops urge nation to ‘take a little more time’ before legalizing civil divorce

Jul 12, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The Philippines is the only nation in the world, other than the Vatican, where divorce is still outlawed.  Read more

The front of the Phat Diem Cathedral, Vietnam.

11 Vietnamese Christians missing from detention amid religious freedom concerns

Jul 10, 2024

By AC Wimmer

A report released July 5 claims the missing individuals were sentenced between 2011 and 2016 to a combined total of... Read more

Catholic men and women kneel down and pray inside the Antipolo Cathedral in the Philippines.

Holy See encourages Catholics in Philippines to ‘listen to their pastors’ on divorce bill

Jul 6, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The Absolute Divorce bill passed the Philippines’ House of Representatives on May 22 with 131 votes in favor of the... Read more

Sybil Kathigasu, potentially Malaysia’s first saint, at age 30. Kathigasu was a devout Catholic who is remembered in Malaysia for protecting information and housing and nursing local members of the anti-Japanese resistance during WWII.

Cardinal calls for beatification, canonization of WWII heroine and nurse from Malaysia

Jul 4, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Sybil Kathigasu is a heroine and lay martyr who protected information and housed and nursed local members of the anti-Japanese... Read more

The Tuan Ma statue is paraded around Larantuka City during the Semana Santa Holy Week celebrations on Indonesia’s Flores island.

Indonesian island set to become an international Catholic pilgrim destination

Jun 30, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The government of Indonesia plans to boost religious tourism on Flores Island, famous for its history and Catholic heritage. Read more

Mark Clifford, president of the Committee for Freedom of Hong Kong and the author of a forthcoming biography of Jimmy Lai, speaks with “EWTN News Nightly” on June 11, 2024.

Jimmy Lai biographer: Trial is a ‘sham,’ but faith gives him ‘strength’

Jun 12, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Lai, the Chinese-born founder of the anti-government newspaper Apple Daily, entered a not guilty plea to charges of conspiring to... Read more

Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, Australia.

Archbishop warns of religious freedom erosion in Australia, calls for ‘saints for our time’

Jun 10, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher raised the alarm over Australia’s incremental erosion of religious freedom and called for committed action. Read more

People visit a polling station to cast their vote during the second phase of voting on April 26, 2024, in a village in Ukhrul district, Manipur, India.

Indian Christians see Hindu nationalist party’s failure to win majority as vote against Modi 

Jun 5, 2024

By Anto Akkara

“The big story of this election is that arrogant Prime Minister Modi has been cut to size by the people’s... Read more

Cardinal John Atcherley Dew on Feb. 14, 2015, in Vatican City.

Vatican clears New Zealand Cardinal John Dew of abuse allegations

Jun 5, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The allegation of historical sexual abuse had been raised against Dew around the time he retired as archbishop of Wellington... Read more

Activists wave placards and chant slogans as they participate in a demonstration against the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, also known as the Anti-Conversion Bill, on Dec. 22, 2021, in Bengaluru, India.

Indian Supreme Court: Anti-conversion law may be ‘unconstitutional’

Jun 4, 2024

By Anto Akkara

The court noted that “some parts [of the law] may seem to be violative of the fundamental right to religion... Read more

Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong cardinal urges forgiveness on Tiananmen Square 35th anniversary

Jun 4, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

During the June 4, 1989, clash between protesters and Chinese troops, tanks rolled into Beijing’s main city square and military... Read more

An aerial view of Tuvalu, an island nation in Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean, Oceania.

Pope Francis appoints California priest to remote island post in Polynesia

Jun 3, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Father Eliseo Napiere, pastor of St. James the Less Parish in the Diocese of San Bernardino, California, will take up... Read more

Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado was ordained bishop at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in the Cook Islands’ capital city, Avarua, on April 27, 2024, in the presence of Father Giosuè Busti, the first deputy-head of mission at the apostolic nunciature of the Holy See in Wellington and representative of Pope Francis, as well as hundreds of Catholic faithful.

New Filipino bishop of the Pacific’s Cook Islands hopes to ‘spiritually nourish’ his people

Jun 1, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado expressed his aspiration to “spiritually nourish” the people of God and develop a “harmonious relationship” with... Read more

Frances Hui is policy and advocacy coordinator for the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.

As Jimmy Lai languishes in prison, fellow activists convicted in Hong Kong

May 31, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Fourteen pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have been convicted of subversion while billionaire Catholic convert Jimmy Lai, 76, remains imprisoned. Read more

Statue of St. Peter in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

Catholic doctors, ethicists criticize Pontifical Academy for Life

May 31, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Experts argue that a book published by the Pontifical Academy book spreads “misleading and confusing” theological and medical information. Read more

Cardinal Bo during his interview with ACI Prensa and EWTN News.

Myanmar conflict: a state of unprecedented turmoil and suffering, Cardinal Bo says

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon in Myanmar, says there is an “unprecedented state of turmoil and suffering, which... Read more