Asia - Pacific News

Father Isaac Honsan, pastor of St. Paul's Church, in Imphal, capital of Manipur state, stands in the rubble after the church was set on fire in a recent attack,

On Indian Independence Day, bishops reiterate Christians’ patriotism

Aug 16, 2023

By Anto Akkara

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India also called for “resolving internal challenges with empathy, understanding, and unity.” Read more

Pakistanis protest Nov. 2, 2018, in Lahore, shortly after the nation's supreme court acquitted Asia Bibi of blasphemy charges.

Pakistan’s legislature passes bill to increase blasphemy penalties to life in prison 

Aug 15, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The legislation would set a maximum penalty of life in prison for blasphemy with a minimum sentence of 10 years... Read more

A group of South Koreans pray at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The challenges facing South Korea in organizing the next World Youth Day

Aug 12, 2023

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

One priest says that being designated the site of the next WYD is an opportunity “to spread faith in Christ”... Read more

A Catholic Church in Nagasaki, destroyed by the Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bombing of the city. Public domain

Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki killed two-thirds of the city’s Catholics 78 years ago

Aug 9, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

Since the 16th century, Nagasaki has been an important center of Catholicism in Japan, initially evangelized by Jesuit and Franciscan... Read more

Goa, the former Portuguese colony on the west coast of India, was evangelized by St. Francis Xavier whose mortal remains are preserved in the Bom Jesus Cathedral (pictured).

Hindu nationalists demand arrest of Catholic priest in India for saying king was not a god

Aug 9, 2023

By Anto Akkara

Hindu groups had staged demonstrations in front of the police station calling for criminal charges to be brought against Father... Read more

Relatives and friends of those killed in six weeks of fighting for control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region visit the Yerablur Military Memorial Cemetery in Yerevan on Sept. 27, 2022, on the second anniversary of the conflict.

‘Religious cleansing’ threatens Armenian Christians’ existence, human rights leaders warn

Jun 21, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

“Azerbaijan, with Turkey’s backing, is really slowly strangling” the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, said Sam Brownback, religious freedom ambassador. Read more

Pope Francis prays at his Wednesday audience in St. Peter’s Square on April 12, 2023.

Pope Francis prays for victims of train crash in India that killed 275 people

Jun 4, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“May our heavenly Father welcome the souls of the deceased into his kingdom,” the pope prayed. Read more

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Make nuclear disarmament a priority, Catholic bishops urge G7 Summit

May 19, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Four Catholic bishops from the U.S. and Japan called for G7 leaders who are meeting in Nagasaki to take action... Read more

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Japanese governmental panel backs abortion pill amid small pro-life protests

Apr 25, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Japan is now one step closer to legalizing an abortion pill despite some pushback from a small but dedicated pro-life... Read more

Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong.

Historic trip of bishop of Hong Kong to Beijing is the first in three decades

Apr 18, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong arrived yesterday in Beijing, the capital of China, amid some tensions between the Asian... Read more

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