FABC Communications Office Highlights Digital Evangelization and Synodal Mission Across Asia

The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences Office for Social Communication (FABC-OSC) highlighted its growing role in digital evangelization, synodal communication, and regional collaboration during a report presented at the 12th FABC Plenary Assembly on July 21.

The report showcased how communication has become an essential part of the Church's mission of evangelization, dialogue, and solidarity across Asia.

A key milestone was the appointment of Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr. as chairman and Fr. John Mi Shen as executive secretary in March 2025, marking a new phase for the office. Based at the Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) campus in Quezon City, Philippines, the office has focused on strengthening collaboration among the Churches of Asia while fostering communion through communication.

At the center of this mission is Radio Veritas Asia, the continent's leading Catholic multimedia network. Under the leadership of Fr. Felmar Fiel, SVD, appointed general manager in August 2025, RVA strengthened cooperation among its language services and regional partners. The report highlighted the restoration of regular coordination with the Myanmar Language Service and renewed collaboration with the Mandarin Production Center in Taiwan, rebuilding trust and regional partnerships.

The office also played a central role in covering major events in the life of the universal Church. Through RVA's multilingual platforms, Catholics across Asia followed Pope Francis' pastoral visit to the continent, mourned his death, accompanied the conclave in prayer, and welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV. The coverage enabled millions of Catholics to participate spiritually in these events despite geographic and linguistic barriers.

Environmental communication was another major focus. In response to the FABC pastoral letter marking the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si', the office launched a continent-wide campaign that included webinars, a short film competition, local Church storytelling initiatives, and the publication of The Voice for Our Common Home: Laudato Si' in Asia. The campaign encouraged Catholics to integrate care for creation into their daily lives while sharing local experiences of ecological conversion.

The report also emphasized communication during times of crisis. Following the devastating Myanmar earthquake in March 2025, the FABC-OSC coordinated information sharing, amplified stories from affected communities, and collaborated with other FABC offices to support humanitarian efforts. It also coordinated media coverage of major Church events, including the Asian Mission Congress and the Great Pilgrimage of Hope.

The office reported significant digital growth. By the end of 2025, Radio Veritas Asia's online audience had increased by nearly 40 percent to about 1.26 million followers across its digital platforms. RVA's Vietnamese Service also received YouTube's Silver Play Button in recognition of its expanding online ministry.

In December 2025, the office brought together more than 40 bishops and communication leaders in Hong Kong, along with representatives of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, to discuss the opportunities and ethical challenges presented by artificial intelligence in the Church's mission.

The report also highlighted the office's role in coordinating media coverage of the 12th FABC Plenary Assembly in partnership with the Communications Office of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference, ensuring that the Assembly's discussions and pastoral priorities reach audiences across Asia and beyond.

Looking ahead, the office announced several major initiatives, including the Asian Catholic Digital Influencers Conference in Manila, the FABC-OSC Bishops' Meeting in Macau on "Magnifica Humanitas and the Synodal Way of Evangelization in Asia," and preparations for communication support for World Youth Day Korea 2027.

As the FABC Plenary Assembly continues under the theme "Synodal Conversion and the Mission to Be Bridges and Bridge-Builders in Asia," the report underscored that communication has become an integral expression of the Church's synodal life, strengthening communion among the local Churches of Asia while bringing the Gospel to new generations through digital media.