Church in Asia

92-year-old Bishop Emeritus Benjamin J. Almoneda of Daet Diocese in Camarines Norte province in the Philippines died in a Manila hospital on the evening of January 6.

Pope Francis met with the former bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun in a private audience at 3:30 PM on January 6, at Santa Marta, his residence in the Vatican. “It was wonderful. He was so very warm!” the elderly cardinal said.

The social action arm of the Catholic Church distributed clothes to thousands of people who were suffering from the cold spell in Bangladesh.

Myanmar Church Leader reiterated the starvation for peace and urged to turn to peace in his new year message on December 31. “Our people are so hungry for peace. Turn to peace,” Cardinal Charles Bo insisted.

Police arrested five, including prominent pro-Hindu leaders, were remanded in judicial custody.

Archbishop Joseph Arshad, "It will further strengthen diplomatic relations and facilitate mutual understanding between the Holy See and the United Arab Emirates."

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith urged the Colombo Catholic community to embrace their brothers and sisters wholly to build the New Sri Lanka. “Even though it has been 75 years since Sri Lanka gained independence, today, we are slaves of the world,” according to Cardinal Ranjith.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT) mourned the death of Pope Benedict XVI in a statement published on January 1.

Indian Latin Catholic Bishops announced a week-long mourning over the death of the late Pope Benedict XVI in a statement published on December 31, 2022.

South Korean church officials have joined other religious and civic groups in calling for the parliament to abolish the death penalty, which is pending in the state legislature.

A local court permitted the former bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, to travel to Rome for the funeral mass of the late Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican.

Pope Francis appointed Father Sebastiao Mascarenhas SFX (63) as the new Bishop of Baroda, India.

Singaporean Cardinal paid tribute to the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the statement published on January 2. “We are sad to hear that Pope Emeritus Benedict passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2022,” Cardinal William Goh said.

As tribal people protested alleged religious conversions in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, a Catholic church was vandalized, and a police official was injured.

The Filipino and Korean Bishops’ Conferences offered their condolence on the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on December 31.

‘Ecumenical Journey of Churches in the Telugu Region: Milestones in Two Decades (2001-2021)’ was released in many places during the semi-Christmas celebrations in 2022. This book presents the origins, various phases of growth, activities, and achievements of the ecumenical movement in the Telugu Region covering the States of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana (TS) from which emerged the Federation of Telugu Churches (FTC).

“The laity is constantly involved through consultation and participation," Bishop Gaa of Novaliches

"Let's continue to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and our environment for the rise of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," said Joko widodo, the Indonesian president

Amruthavani Communication Center hosted the Sree Yesu Jananam (Nativity of Jesus Christ) cultural show at St. Theresa's church in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, on December 18. Nativity of Jesus Christ is a unique show which blends evangelization with Kuchipudi classical dance, a cultural heritage of the Telugu region of India.

Hyderabad Archdiocesan Social Service Society (HASSS) provided Dry Ration Kits to the transgenders during the Christmas celebration at Suraram, Hyderabad Archdiocese, on December 21. "It is our honor to welcome our Transgender, who have for so long been pushed to the margins, to this special celebration meant for them. Through this, we remember that Christmas and the love and hope it brings is for everyone," Father Madanu said.