Asia - Pacific News
Pope Francis prays for victims of train crash in India that killed 275 people
“May our heavenly Father welcome the souls of the deceased into his kingdom,” the pope prayed. Read more
Make nuclear disarmament a priority, Catholic bishops urge G7 Summit
Four Catholic bishops from the U.S. and Japan called for G7 leaders who are meeting in Nagasaki to take action... Read more
Japanese governmental panel backs abortion pill amid small pro-life protests
Japan is now one step closer to legalizing an abortion pill despite some pushback from a small but dedicated pro-life... Read more
Historic trip of bishop of Hong Kong to Beijing is the first in three decades
Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong arrived yesterday in Beijing, the capital of China, amid some tensions between the Asian... Read more
China’s new ‘Smart Religion’ app requires faithful to register to attend worship services
A human rights group said the app is part of the communist government’s efforts to “strictly manage religion in a... Read more
Thousands mourn Cardinal Pell at Sydney funeral: ‘Be not afraid’ was his motto
Civic leaders, friends, and members of Cardinal George Pell’s family remembered the Australian cardinal’s dedication to the Church. Read more
Cardinal Zen hospitalized in Hong Kong after returning from Benedict XVI’s funeral
The 91-year-old cardinal wrote on his blog on Jan. 31 that he is receiving treatment in the hospital after experiencing... Read more
Japanese prime minister vows to take action on declining birthrate
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently warned that Japan’s birthrate — one of the lowest in the world — is... Read more
Church in Australia reacts with ‘shock,’ sadness at news of Cardinal Pell’s death
Cardinal George Pell, prefect emeritus of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, died Tuesday in Rome at the age of... Read more
‘Black Nazarene’ procession in the Philippines draws over 100,000 two years after pandemic
The origin of the image dates back to 1607, when the wooden image representing Christ bent under the weight of... Read more
Warning of ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ in Nagorno-Karabakh
A leading politician serving the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has strongly echoed Pope Francis’ concerns about the humanitarian situation in... Read more
Cardinal Zen appeals conviction in Hong Kong court
Cardinal Joseph Zen has filed an appeal with Hong Kong’s High Court following his conviction last month for failing to... Read more
Hong Kong court convicts Cardinal Zen and five other democracy advocates
Cardinal Joseph Zen and five others were found guilty on Friday of failing to register a fund that helped pay... Read more
Verdict in Cardinal Zen’s trial expected on Friday
One of the pro-democracy advocates on trial with Cardinal Joseph Zen was recently arrested under Hong Kong’s national security law. Read more
Cardinal Zen trial update: Defense calls for charges to be dismissed
Lawyers defending Cardinal Joseph Zen and five other Hong Kong democracy activists took the floor Monday in the West Kowloon... Read more
South Korea’s Catholic bishops pray for Halloween crowd surge victims
Catholic bishops in South Korea offered condolences to the bereaved families of the more than 150 people killed in a... Read more
Cardinal Zen’s trial reopens in Hong Kong days after Vatican-China deal renewal
The trial of Cardinal Joseph Zen resumed in Hong Kong on Wednesday, days after the Vatican announced the renewal of... Read more
Amid claim of coming ‘Asian millennium,’ Pope Francis tells bishops to discern Holy Spirit
Pope Francis on Wednesday called on Asia’s Catholic bishops, currently gathered in Thailand, to discern what the Holy Spirit is... Read more
Christians excluded from Australian sports? Bishops raise alarm after exec resigns
One day after being appointed chief executive of an Australian rules football club, Andrew Thorburn stepped down from the role... Read more
Pope Francis mourns 23 children and several adults killed in Thailand day care attack
Pope Francis has expressed deep sorrow at the news of a deadly rampage at a day care center in Thailand... Read more
