Leo XIV’s Angelus following his surgery at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. His thanks for the prayers: “I have truly felt your support”. Activities will resume “gradually”. On World Mission Day: “So much history in 100 years; may the Church remain faithful to the Risen One’s mandate”.
On the day when the Church throughout the world celebrates World Mission Day for the 100th time, here is the testimony of one of the many Asian missionaries carrying out their apostolate on another continent. “I know how difficult it is to make Christ known here, but I have found various ways to communicate his merciful love.”
A conference in Taipei marked the centenary of Pius XI’s historic decision in October 1926 to ordain the first six bishops born in China. This was a crucial step on a path of inculturation which, after 1949, however, had to contend with control from Beijing. The challenge of the Church’s identity in China remains as relevant as ever.
From reforestation in China to sustainable coffee in Indonesia, and free-diving fisherwomen in South Korea: the FAO has selected 100 women who are contributing to food security, environmental protection and the development of rural communities. However, the sector is still marked by significant gender inequalities.
Off the coast of Adrasan, in Anatolia, over 6,500 ceramic artefacts have been recovered from a ship that sank in the 1st century BC. The cargo bears witness to trade between the East and Rome and echoes the letters in which Cicero recalled the vases from ancient Rhosus.
Today’s headlines: Indian youth continue protests in New Delhi; In Bangkok, Thailand's prime minister plays the saxophone at International Monetary Fund meeting; Japan registers 30 typhoons so far in 2026.
A week after the announcement, the Indian government has yet to utter a word about Navi Pillay, even though she openly embraces her Tamil identity and Hindu roots. Beyond the caution exercised due to relations with Israel, the sticking point primarily appears to be her assessments of human rights violations in Kashmir.
At the recent Valdai Forum, Putin complained and issued threats. A now predictable spectacle, featuring disagreement over an energy truce, the promise to finally conquer the Donbas, and the intimidating tactic that no one possesses weapons like Russia’s,
For World Food Day, Pope Leo XIV wrote to the director-general of the UN agency, Qu Dongyu. In his message, the pontiff says: "We must emerge from a profound ethical crisis." The primary causes of hunger are a lack of “political will” and “collective charity.” To counter this, Leo urges the world to redirect military resources towards “sustainable agricultural research” and the “regeneration of degraded soils.”
The latest case was reported in late September, involving the Yikoufu walnut oil brand. Deceptive advertising and poor quality have failed to slow the boom in online sales. Producers, intermediaries, live streamers, and platforms all shift the blame onto one another. New laws are needed.
In recent days, fresh flooding in Solo Khumbu – the gateway to Everest – has highlighted the instability of the mountain environment. Celebrations of Nepal’s most important religious festival have been subdued amongst families, partly due to the ongoing transport problems.
More and more citizens of the Islamic Republic are looking to Armenia for work, often in unskilled labour roles. Once tourists, today an increasing number are employed in construction, transport or deliveries. In Turkmenistan, Pezeshkian and Pashinyan are aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and investment.
Today’s headlines: Six Philippine companies fined for price-fixing on onions in 2022; Japan drafts guidelines to tackle religious abuse within families; Punjab government opposes Delhi’s veto on official visits abroad; In China, no earnings for those who sell their image to AI-generated mini-dramas.
According to the OECD’s plenary session on fundamental freedoms, repression is taking on new forms in all five countries in the region, extending increasingly into the digital sphere and beyond national borders.
Ignatius Ding Zuyao, a priest born in 1986, was consecrated this morning in Jiangsu province under the terms of the agreement with the Holy See. This diocese saw Bishop Shen Bin moved (by the Communist Party) to Shanghai. Ding becomes the youngest bishop in the world, confirming a clear trend in episcopal appointments in China.
Fires burning for weeks have worsened air pollution in Malaysia and Singapore. While Malaysia has called for greater regional coordination, ASEAN agreements remain contingent on the willingness of individual states to cooperate.
Bishop Ri Iong-Hoon, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, spoke to AsiaNews from Rome, where he is taking part in a gathering convened by Pope Leo XIV, about the challenges facing families in his country. In his view, “the Church should not simply tell young people to marry and have children. We must first listen to their hopes, fears,” while the family and children should be seen “as a subject of evangelization.”
Following Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei may also welcome the Myanmar leader. Meanwhile, the US has initiated direct talks with Myanmar, which is keen to gain international legitimacy.
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