Pope Francis has stated that the Catholic Church remains “still too Eurocentric” and urges a broader focus on regions like Southeast Asia and Oceania. Speaking at St Peter’s Square on 18 September, the Pope said the Church is “more alive” in areas like Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. The pontiff emphasised the Read more
As Pope Francis concludes his 12-day tour of Southeast Asia, theologian and anthropologist Michel Chambon, based in Singapore, analysed the significance of this trip for the future of Sino-Vatican relations. How has China followed Pope Francis’ Asian tour, and what interests has it seen in it? Michel Chambon: Beijing has closely observed the entirety of Read more
On his tour, Pope Francis promoted peace, religious harmony, and Catholicism’s engagement with Islam, particularly in Indonesia. His visit showcased his focus on global peripheries and the Church’s need to navigate complex political and interreligious issues in today’s world. Pope Francis is arguably at his best when far from Rome. His apostolic trips to the Read more
Pope Francis celebrated Mass before a massive crowd of 600,000 people in East Timor. The turnout represents nearly half the population of the Southeast Asian nation. The remarkable attendance was a testament to the overwhelmingly Catholic Southeast Asian country and the esteem with which its people hold the church. The Mass, held at Tasitolu Park Read more
“Papua has been living a nightmare of unimaginable violence for over half a century. “No one cares about the tragic fate of the Papuan minority, who suffer from the injustices of the ruling powers and the Indonesian military, who accuse them of being separatists,” said Father Alexandro Rangga. Speaking by phone from Jakarta, the 37-year-old Read more
In early September Pope Francis has scheduled two busy weeks of travel. He will visit Indonesia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. No doubt some Australians will grumble that he passed so close without dropping in to visit us. For the 87 year-old Pope such travel will be arduous. His determination to continue visiting Read more
Malaysians are determined to proceed with their travel plans to Singapore for the Papal visit in September despite the detection of pox cases on the island republic. “No matter what, I will go. There’s no turning back,” said Angeline Lee from Kuala Lumpur. The 52-year-old told UCA News that she is not dropping her plans Read more
Plans being made for a September papal visit to East Timor are drawing criticism from local human rights groups. The costs will be too high and people’s lives are already being disrupted they say. Extremely expensive Last Thursday human rights organisation Lao Hamutuk told Union of Catholic Asian (UCA) News that the Government’s budgeted US$12 Read more
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis, who is still recovering from major abdominal surgery, is going ahead with his August 31-September 4 apostolic visit to Mongolia. The Holy See Press Office on July 6 released the full schedule of what will be the first papal trip ever to the sparsely populated East Asian nation Read more
South Korea’s Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung says he would greatly welcome a visit from Pope Francis to North Korea and would be willing to accompany him during his trip. Yeom, who is the archbishop of Seoul, also serves as the acting chief of North Korea’s Pyongyang Diocese. According to Lee Hae-chan, the chief of the Read more