Asia

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  17 January 2026
  ASIA/INDIA - Saint Lazarus Devasahayam: Patron Saint of the Catholic Laity Kottar (Agenzia Fides) – Saint Lazarus Devasahayam (1712–1752) rejected the caste system and upheld the dignity of every human being. This was emphasized by the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Archbishop Leopold ...
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  16 January 2026
  ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Korean Ambassador to the Holy See, Hyung Sik Shin: "We extend a hand of reconciliation to North Korea" by Paolo Affatato Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – "We intend to leave behind the era of confrontation and inaugurate a new stage of peaceful coexistence and shared growth, promoting a sustainable peace that guarante ...
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  15 January 2026
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Pakistan's first palliative care center for terminally ill patients opens in a Catholic hospital Hyderabad (Agenzia Fides) – The new day center for palliative care at St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital in Hyderabad, in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, aims to provide cancer patients and the terminally ill in Pakis ...
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  15 January 2026
  ASIA/KUWAIT - Cardinal Pietro Parolin in the country for the elevation of the 'mother church' of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia to Minor Basilica Kuwait City (Agenzia Fides) – This is a particularly significant and joyous moment for all the faithful of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. The Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, arrived in Kuwait ...
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  14 January 2026
  ASIA/SRI LANKA - The country is on the road to recovery after Cyclone Ditwah, the Church is committed "to instilling new hope" Colombo (Agenzia Fides) – "The force of Cyclone Ditwah and the subsequent flooding between late November and early December 2025 left people with nothing. The death toll exceeded 600, and a total of 2.3 million people ...
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  14 January 2026
  ASIA/VIETNAM - 61 new Vietnamese deacons ordained - A Great Joy in the Early Days of the New Year 2026 for the Vietnamese Church   by Andrew Doan Thanh Phong Hue (Agenzia Fides) - “You yourselves will become the connectors of unity, faith, and hope in the ministry of the proclamation of the Word of God, as well as manifest the values of the voc ...
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  13 January 2026
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Archbishop of Cebu: Celebrations for the Feast of Santo Niño should not be financed by sponsors linked to the gambling industry Cebu City (Agenzia Fides) – The celebrations for the Feast of the Santo Niño, which culminates on January 18 in the Archdiocese of Cebu, should not be financed by sponsors and donations from entities associated with g ...
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  13 January 2026
  ASIA/BAHRAIN - The Vicariate of Northern Arabia and the Solemnity of Our Lady of Arabia: Mary, mother, protector, and companion of millions of Catholics far from their homelands Awali (Agenzia Fides) - The Saturday (or Sunday) after the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated throughout the Arabian Peninsula as the Solemnity of Our Lady of Arabia (OLA). This year, the celebration in Bahrain was pres ...
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  12 January 2026
  ASIA/CHINA - Word of God, family, pastoral care: Chinese Catholic dioceses launch their "theme years" Shijiazhuang (Agenzia Fides) – In the Catholic Diocese of Beijing, the new year is dedicated to the Word of God; in Ningbo, the Year of the Family has been launched; and in the Diocese of Handan, 2026 will also be dev ...
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  12 January 2026
  ASIA/MYANMAR - Amid the tragedy of education denied due to the conflict, a Catholic institute continues its educational work Yangon (Agenzia Fides) – In the context of a civil war that has been raging across the country for five years, nearly five million students have been unable to complete their studies, at all levels of education, betwee ...
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  10 January 2026
  ASIA/INDIA - Association of Lay Catholics: "In the new year, the commitment to free society from hatred and discrimination" Goa (Agenzia Fides) – "At the beginning of 2026, the All India Catholic Union (AICU), which has served as the voice of the country's Christian citizens for 106 years, is calling for action: Together, through unity, edu ...
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  9 January 2026
  ASIA/MYANMAR - Elections in a country at war: “There is hope for change and national dialogue” Yangon (Agenzia Fides) – In Myanmar, where a civil war has raged for almost five years since the coup attempt of February 1, 2021, the military junta has launched elections to form a bicameral parliament. Opposition pa ...
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  8 January 2026
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Father Feroz: "The light of Christ shines in Pakistan offering hope for peace through the Jubilee Year" Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – “The Jubilee Year has reminded us that Christ is our hope, yesterday, today, and forever. This hope accompanies us in 2026, a year in which we hope and commit ourselves to building peace in o ...
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  7 January 2026
  ASIA/CHINA - The closing of the Jubilee Year and the many "new beginnings" of Chinese Catholic communities Shijiazhuang (Agenzia Fides) – The closing of the Jubilee Year dedicated to Hope can also be understood as a new beginning, a new start on the path of faith. In this spirit, Catholic communities in mainland China cele ...
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  7 January 2026
  ASIA/MYANMAR - Bishops: Peace and education are crucial for Myanmar's future Yangon (Agenzia Fides) – The theme of peace was at the center of the assembly of the Myanmar Bishops' Conference, which recently took place in Yangon and concluded with a solemn Mass in Yangon Cathedral, presided over ...