News in Asia and the Pacific Rim | New Outlook

A 90-year-old Catholic cardinal and five others stood trial in Hong Kong on Monday for allegedly failing to register a now-defunct fund set up to assist people arrested in the mass anti-government protests in the city three years ago.

Catholics around the world marked the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sept. 25, and the Archdiocese of Bombay used the occasion to recommit itself to helping Tribal migrants within greater Mumbai.

Demonstrations are continuing in Iran over the death of a young Iranian woman while in police custody. Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by Iran’s so-called “morality police” for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly.

Christians in India say a new anti-conversion law passed in the state of Karnataka on Sept. 16, will infringe on the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Indian constitution.

On Monday, the trial against Chinese Cardinal Joseph Zen and five other defendants formally opened in Hong Kong, initiating highly controversial proceedings that could end in heavy fines or jail time, and which has been widely criticized as an attack against democracy.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis prayed for the victims of recent fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia, appealing for dialogue and peace. He also asked everyone to continue praying for Ukraine and all parts of the world bloodied by war.

On the occasion of the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican Substitute of the Secretariat of State is to meet with authorities the and the local community in the Indonesian archipelago until 23 September.

After reports of more than 200 soldiers killed on both sides of the latest round of clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the international community and the UN welcome a ceasefire, while Pope Francis reiterates his appeals for peace amid many conflicts hotspots in the world.

Soldiers in Myanmar used a Catholic church as a kitchen and laid mines around the building, church sources told ucanews.com.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first trip overseas since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic will overlap with a visit by Pope Francis to Kazakhstan, although the Vatican says there are no plans for them to meet.

Catholic and Church of North India leaders have met with Sikh leaders in the Indian state of Punjab to foster religious harmony in the wake of accusations of “misleading” missionary efforts by “fake” Christian pastors.

As Kazakhs await Pope Francis’s arrival to the country in just a few days’ time, one of Kazakhstan’s top prelates has said Catholics are anxious to welcome him, and hope his presence will help promote peace in Ukraine.

"Martyrdom is normal in our church," said Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun. "We may not have to do that, but we may have to bear some pain and steel ourselves for our loyalty to our faith."

In an interview with Vatican News, Archbishop Tomasz Peta, the head of Kazakhstan's largest and only Archdiocese - Astana - calls Pope Francis' trip to the Central Asian nation next week 'a great blessing' for Catholics and entire country, saying the interreligious Congress he will attend "can be a sign which points to God as to the source of peace."

At an event celebrating Asia's six new Cardinals, Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, Cardinal Oswald Gracias says he hopes the entire Church in Asia will take a step forward in responding to their call to serve. “Every baptized person is called to spend themselves for the Church”, he said.

Bishop John Baptist Ye Ronghua, who led the reconstruction of the Catholic Church in northwestern China's Ankang area, died at age 91.

East Timor’s new and first-ever cardinal has said his small nation, one of just two Catholic majority countries in Asia and located in the shadow of the world’s largest Muslim nation, is still longing for a papal visit after one was postponed due to the coronavirus.

The education oversight board of the Philippines launches an investigation after over 860 private schools close down in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, of which 85 percent were Catholic-run.

Two state-sponsored church bodies in China have elected new leaders, who promised to invigorate the Catholic faithful pastorally in line with the socialist principles of the Chinese Communist Party.