Church in Asia

Global Winners of the Syro-Malabar Mission Quest, an online quiz competition on the mission, announced. The winners were chosen from over 10,000 participants from the 35 Syro-Malabar Dioceses worldwide.

Father Arun Bara SJ, a newly ordained priest, died in a road accident. "We Jesuits have lost a very young priest who was ordained in October 2022 and asks that he be received into God's glory and granted eternal peace," Jesuit Provincial.

Cardinal Jose F. Advincula of Manila Archdiocese urges the Catholics to strive for truth, justice, and peace in the world, during the Black Nazarene Feast day Mass on January 9. On January 8, the six kilometres “Walk of Faith” began at 1 AM at the Quirino Grandstand and ended at 4 AM at the Quiapo Church to commemorate the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

'Jesus Christ came to this world to establish justice and peace. I always remember His words with great respect', said Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her Christmas message.

The Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh recalled direction given by the late Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholics to live in a society with a strong faith: "Let us follow the path of love. Willing to sacrifice our lives for the benefit of others in humble hearts. Walking slowly toward God is indeed the perfect happiness.”

An Irish priest who worked in several Asian countries, including China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, died on January 6 at the Columban House in Kowloon. His death news "came as a shock to the Columbans and his many friends," said a press note from the Columbans.

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.