“The mission today is an exchange of gifts between Churches, between those who have and those who have not,” the prelate said in his address. “Before, it was from West to East, now many countries in Asia and Africa give missionaries to the world. The very concept of periphery is changing, and even Europe today is becoming a periphery” said Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo on October 8th briefing on the work of the Synod underway in the Vatican. In addition to the Archdiocese of Tokyo, the 65-year-old Kikuchi has chaired Caritas Internationalis since last year.
Pope Francis “has just come to our continent where he has visited many countries,” he said, stressing how the pontiff looks with particular attention to Asia. “He has chosen three more bishops from Asian dioceses among the new cardinals. More generally, the centre of the Church’s mission is moving towards the Global South.” On the experience of synodality, the prelate explained that the Japanese Church is focusing “more on its foundations than on the rush to build.” “We met with priests, religious and lay people for the National Congress of our 15 dioceses. We practised together the method of conversation in the Spirit. We also need a common understanding of synodality,” which “is not basing everything on consensus. Common discernment must indicate the direction, then someone has the task of making decisions.”
Archbishop Kikuchi had already written on his appointment as a cardinal in a message sent to his diocese and to all his friends. “This appointment is not just a personal honour for me, but a great honour for the Church in Japan, and especially for the Tokyo Archdiocese, and also for Caritas Inter-nationalis,” he said.
“I was surprised. It had been a long time since I was so shocked from the bottom of my heart. And I was confused. When I think about the fact that being a cardinal is not just an honorary position, but that there are many roles to play as an advisor to the Pope, I can only see my own shortcomings.”
Finally, the archbishop of Tokyo, who is also secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), mentioned the presence of Philippine Bishop Pablo David among the new cardinals. He “will be the next FABC vice president (in January 2025 alongside the new president, Card Felipe Neri Ferrao, archbishop of Goa). I believe this appointment will have great significance for the FABC.”

In a powerful gesture of unity and hope, the Korean Catholic commu-nity has introduced a new mosaic of the Virgin Mary, symbolizing their enduring plea for peace across the globe. The mosaic, titled “Our Lady of Korean Peace”, was blessed in the Vatican Gardens on September 20, a date that holds profound significance as the Church commemorates the martyrdom of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Korea’s first priest, and his companions. The installation serves as both a tribute to these martyrs and a call for reconciliation in today’s turbulent world.
The mosaic’s imagery is rich with symbolism. The Virgin Mary, dressed in a traditional Korean “hanbok”, stands as a figure of maternal care and divine protection. Her red top represents divine motherhood, while her turquoise skirt reflects peace. She cradles the Child Jesus, who is dressed in colorful attire, symbolizing the youth of Korea, and holds a globe in his hand, signifying his dominion over the world. The Virgin also clutches a rosary and stands triumphant over a serpent, symbolizing her victory over evil. Above, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove carries an olive branch, underscoring the ever-urgent plea for peace in regions stricken by conflict, such as Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Korean Peninsula.

In a stunning display of faith and craftsmanship, Indonesia has unveiled the world’s tallest statue of Jesus Christ, rising majesti-cally above Sibeabea Hill in North Sumatra. Towering at 61 meters, the “Jesus Christ the Saviour” statue now stands as a new global landmark, surpassing Rio de Janeiro’s famous “Christ the Redeemer” by over 20 me-ters. This monumental structure overlooks the scenic Toba Lake in Samosir Regency, blending natural beauty with spiritual significance.
The statue was officially inaugurated on September 19 by Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunja-min, President of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, in a cere-mony that drew both local and international attention. Just weeks before, on September 6, Pope Francis himself blessed a minia-ture version of the statue during a special event at the Vatican embassy in Jakarta. The Pope also signed a prayer plate that now sits at the base of the tower-ing statue, echoing his words: “What is admired about Jesus the Saviour is his infinite love.”
The unveiling of this statue is more than a ceremonial act—it is a testament to Indonesia’s co-mmitment to interfaith harmony, despite being a predominantly Muslim nation. In this spirit, the statue serves as a symbol of inclusivity and a beacon for all who seek solace and spiritual reflection.
Bishop Bunjamin re-marked during the inauguration, “This is a hill blessed by God, expected to be a place where people’s faith can grow stronger.” Located in an area of Indonesia with a significant Christian population, North Sumatra is home to more than a million Catholics and over four million Protestants, according to the Central Statistics Agency. The statue thus holds deep meaning for the region’s Christian community, who now have a monumental representation of their faith that also draws thousands of tourists and pilgrims each year.

Shagufta Kiran, a 40-year-old Pakistani Christian woman, has been found guilty of blasphemy and sentenced to death under Article 295-C of Pakistan’s Penal Code, which punishes offences against the Prophet Muhammad.
The charge stems from a message shared on the social media platform WhatsApp. According to Fides News Agency, Kiran’s lawyer, Rana Abdul Hameed, reported that the judgment was handed down by a lower court judge in Islamabad, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Along with the death sentence, Kiran has been fined 300,000 rupees (approximately 1,000 US dollars) following a legal process that lasted three years.
Her defence team argued that Kiran was not the author of the offensive content but had simply forwarded it in a group chat without reading it, yet this defence was insufficient to prevent her conviction.
Shagufta Kiran, who is a wife and mother to four children, was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on July 29, 2021, in Islamabad for sharing blasphemous content in a WhatsApp group in September 2020. She is currently being held in the Central Adyalaa prison in Rawalpindi, where she will remain until her sentence is carried out.
Her lawyer has announced plans to appeal the decision to the Islamabad High Court. He emphasized that “the person who originally wrote the incriminating message is still free, while the one who merely shared it without endorsing it is condemned.” There is a strong belief that Shagufta has been targeted because she is Christian, making her an easy and vulnerable scapegoat.
In Pakistan, there is an increased focus on monitoring potential blasphemy offences online, with Islamic organizations viewing such actions as a growing threat that must be met with the harshest penalties. FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing is tasked with monitoring and reporting online content deemed blasphemous, leading to further police action.

During a meeting at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo on September 23, Card. Ranjith congratulated President Dissana-yake on his electoral victory. He emphasized the significant res-ponsibilities awaiting the new president, particularly in addre-ssing the challenges faced by the nation. He offered the President his blessings and full support for the tasks ahead and stressed the importance of prioritizing the welfare of the impoverished seg-ments of society.
In response to a query from the press, Cardinal Ranjith high-lighted President Dissanayake’s pledge to thoroughly investigate the Easter attacks, ensuring that the truth would be uncovered and justice served.
President Dissanayake’s day continued with visits to other reli-gious landmarks, including the Dawatagaha Mosque in Colom-bo, where he participated in cere-monies and received further ble-ssings. Sri Lanka’s new leader assumed the presidency on Mon-day, ushering in promises of change for a nation that has been predominantly ruled by powerful political dynasties and is currently recovering from its most severe economic crisis in over seventy years.
Millions cast their votes for Dissanayake, an opposition parliamentarian, drawn by his commitment to combat corruption and support the country’s tenuous economic revival.
During his inaugural address at the president’s office, Dissanayake, aged 55, pledged his dedication to protecting and promoting democracy, acknowledging the challenging times ahead. “Our politics needs to be cleaner, and the people have demanded a different political culture,” he said. “I am ready to commit to that change.”

On Tuesday 24 September at the Holy See Press Office, orga-nizers and promoters of the next global gathering of youth pre-sented World Youth Day (WYD) 2027 to be hosted by the Catholic Church in Seoul, South Korea.
The theme for this 41st World Youth Day (2026 and Seoul 2027) is taken from John’s Gospel, re-calling Jesus’ words: “Take courage! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33). Also announ-ced was the theme for the 40th World Youth Day coming up before that in 2025, also from John’s Gospel when Jesus says: “You also are my witnesses, because you have been with me” (Jn 15:27).
Presenting details of the Seoul global celebration of faith were Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, the Vatican office over-seeing the WYD events; Arch-bishop Peter Soon-Taick Chung of Seoul, South Korea, and Pre-sident of the Local Organizing Committee of Seoul 2027; Bishop Paul Kyung Sang Lee of South Korea, General Coordinator of WYD Seoul 2027; and Ms. Ga-briela Su-Ji Kim, a young Korean who participated and previous World Youth Days who shared her experiences and hopes.
In his address Bishop Kyung-sang Lee thanked Pope Francis for the choice of the theme, “Take courage! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33), saying it “re-sonates deeply with the circum-stances faced by the Catholic Church of Korea and the chall-enges confronting today’s youth.”
He also noted that “Korea stands in a unique context distinct from previous World Youth Day hosts, characterized by the harmonious coexistence of diverse religious traditions” that can offer a unique and rich experience for youth from around the world. In reference to the division of Korea, he said “the Church has diligently worked to resolve the conflicts inherent in this division over the past seven decades, seeking peace and unity for the Korean people.”
In addition to presenting organizational details and events for promoting WYD 2027, Bishop Kyung-sang Lee presented the logo for the event, noting that central to the logo is a cross with the red and blue colours symbolizing Christ’s triumphant victory over the world. The left element, reaching upward, signifies God in Heaven, while the right element, pointing downward, symbolizes Earth, illustrating the fulfilment of God’s will on Earth through their unity, all inspired by traditional Korean art.

“I believe his visit has revived the faith of our people. His visit has caused many of our Catholics to work together,” said Cardinal William Goh, archbishop of Singapore, in an interview with Vatican News about Pope Francis’ recent visit to the country.
“It’s a very rare occasion when all Catholics come together to work side by side. All of them have been very enthusiastic and have felt that it is a great privilege to be part of this entire organizing committee, to plan and work for the success of the papal visit,” he added.
For the cardinal, the papal trip will inspire the intention to “build ourselves as one Church,” to unite around the figure of the bishop of Rome, and to further promote the message of the Gospel among those who need it most.
It is precisely the quest to bring the good news to all humanity that prompted the pope to visit Asia, Goh explained. An effort to make the Catholic Church “truly a sacrament of the mercy and compassion of Jesus toward others.”
“I think that these types of messages, such as reaching out to the marginalized, to the poor, to those who suffer, to the vulnerable, and respecting other religions, the dignity of life, the protection of the family, and young people, respecting young people and encouraging young people to be bold, without forgetting the elderly either, all these messages that the Holy Father constantly speaks about resonate throughout the world, even for us Singaporeans,” the cardinal reflected.
Furthermore, he said the country’s Catholics are grateful because the pope “has rejuvenated” their faith, which in the long term will imply “a more dynamic and lively desire” for fraternity and to lead others to Jesus.

A historic moment in Erbil, northern Iraq. In Ankawa, a suburb of the capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan located in the north of the country, hundreds of Christians are participating in the Feast of the Cross, which began on Monday 9 September and will continue until Friday. The joyous event is marked by high hopes given that the Christians of various traditions are coming together for the celebration – Catholic, Orthodox and Assyrian – the first time united together in celebrating the memory of the finding of the Holy Cross on which our Lord died for the redemption of all.
The focus of the celebrations underscores the faith that unites Christians. They are praying every day in a different church and participating in the various cultural meetings organised in the streets of the suburb, made festive with special lights and colours. All the events are part of the preparations for the liturgical Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which will take place on 14 September for churches following the Gregorian calendar or 27 September for those following the Julian calendar.
At the opening of the festivities on Monday 9 September, a large cross was carried in procession to the Assyrian Church of the East of St. John the Baptist. The solemnity of the celebration was reflected in the hymns sung by the clergy and faithful holding large lit candles, a sign not only of praise and adoration but also of sharing and peace. “Churches used to celebrate this commemoration separately every year. But this year is wonderfully different,” underscored Monsignor Bashar Matti Warda, arch-parish priest of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of Erbil, who organised the event with the blessing of Mar Awa III, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Bishops of the Syro-Catholic and Syro-Orthodox Churches.
In his address during the festival, Patriarch Mar Awa III explained how “the celebration of the Feast of the Finding of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ represents an important milestone in the divine plan in the Church of the East. When we look at the cross, we remember the sufferings of Christ, but also his glorious resurrection from the dead. And when we make the sign of the cross over ourselves, we proclaim our expectation of his Second Advent and our faith in eternal life.”
The celebrations of the Feast of the Holy Cross represent a further and concrete step in ecumenism to which the Catholic Church attaches great importance, as Pope Francis affirmed in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium: “commitment to ecumenism responds to the prayer of the Lord Jesus that ‘they may all be one.’”
The events also represent a positive sign for the future of Iraqi Christians: over time, wars, political instability and the rise of the Islamic State have driven thousands of Christians of all denominations out of the country. Just some time ago, Monsignor Bashar Matti Warda himself, in the absence of official statistics, declared that “in all of Iraq there are around 300,000 Christians remaining.” But hope remains alive despite the reduced numbers of this flock, as the Ankawa festival is proving.

On 9 September the Apostolic Nuncio to Bangladesh, Msgr Kevin S. Randall, met with Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the interim government created after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India.
At the Rashtriya Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, the two discussed various issues, including the protection of religious minorities in the country. The nuncio proposed the creation of an institution for interreligious dialogue between the Vatican Delegation for Interreligious Dialogue and Bangladeshi scholars of Islam.
He went on to emphasise the need to increase humanitarian assistance for over one million Rohingya refugees living in camps in Cox’s Bazar. To which the Chief Advisor responded by asking for the Vatican’s support. After the meeting, Msgr Randall told AsiaNews he shared with Yunus ‘that Pope Francis is always concerned about the plight of the displaced people. The Church in Bangladesh, through Caritas, has been helping the Rohingya since 2017’.
On the other hand, Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for fostering the development of microcredit in Bangladesh, emphasised that the interim government’s main goal is to improve security after last month’s protests (strikes and demonstrations are still ongoing in some outlying areas) and to implement major reform programmes.

“It was a historical event, a celebration for the people of Timor, a celebration of the faith of the Catholic Church in Timor, years after the first visit of St. Pope John Paul II, and the first visit to our homeland as a sovereign nation.” In an interview with Vatican News’ Fr. Bernardo Suate, Cardinal Virgilio do Carma da Silva, Archbishop of Dili, described Pope Francis’ just-concluded Apostolic Visit to the nation, calling it “successful” thanks to all who made the Journey possible.
“The Pope’s visit,” Cardinal Da Silva observed, “affirmed and confirmed our identity, saying to the Timorese: ‘Even though we are small as a country, we have something unique, and that is our Catholic faith.'” “We are not Indonesians, nor are we Australians, but we are Timorese,” he said, noting that, as such, “we have our own unique Timorese and Catholic identity.” The fruits that “will be reaped from Pope Francis’ presence, for the Church, country, and society,” he insisted, are “reinforcing the faith” and “bringing peace to the young people of Timor.”
Even though Pope John Paul II visited the country when “we were still a colony under Indonesia, in a state of desperation,” the Cardinal highlighted that the former Pope’s message was “one of hope, namely to ‘Be firm in your faith, continue to be salt and light to the world.'” “After two decades of independence, the visit of Pope John Paul II, followed by Pope Francis’ visit, during these two decades of transition in the process of building a nation and a new identity,” Cardinal Da Silva expressed, “there was a new birth in this corner of the world.”
The Holy Father’s stay in the overwhelmingly Catholic-majority island nation, he noted, “was an opportunity to share with the world the reality of the Timorese people,” especially “the faith of the Timorese people, living the Catholic faith in this corner of the world.”
The Cardinal also recalled the “strong messages” the Holy Father left the nation’s young people, namely to be joyful and exuberant, and secondly, “to respect their elders, their parents, and the children.”
“When all young people and children continue to cultivate in their hearts this attitude of respect for others,” Cardinal Da Silva argued, “it will be a big step for us and will make a difference, especially after the Pope’s visit.”