The head of Myanmar’s only private Catholic educational institution has described the graduation of its latest batch of students as “an act of resilience” amid ongoing armed conflict and instability in the country. The students at St. Joseph’s Institute “have persevered in their studies despite the profound challenges facing Myanmar’s education system,” said Joseph Win Hlaing Oo, director of the facility.

Hlaing made his remarks during the fifth graduation ceremony held on Jan. 10, the Vatican’s missionary news service Fides reported on Jan. 12. During the ceremony, 30 students – three graduates and 27 diploma holders – received their certificates.

More than 700 graduates have completed courses at the institute, which was founded in 2015 and is authorized to grant state-recognized degrees. It was officially recognized as a Catholic institution by the Archdiocese of Yangon in 2021. Bishop John Saw Yaw Han of Kengtung, Auxiliary Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye of Yangon, among others, attended the ceremony.  

Hlaing pointed out that insecurity and armed conflict within the nation have had a “drastic impact on both enrollment and the very possibility of continuing studies.” “Some students have had to flee their villages to save their lives; others have died in conflict zones,” Hlaing claimed. He noted that, under normal circumstances and given the institute’s interest, the graduating class could have exceeded 100 students. Nearly five million students have been unable to complete their studies, at all levels of education, between 2021 and 2024, Fides reported.

Catholic bishops in South Korea issued a circular warning Catholics from any association with the controversial Marian shrine in Naju, which is not recognized by the Korean Church and the Vatican. The Jan. 12 letter signed by Father Lee Cheol-su, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK), said the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith issued several notices asking people not to be swayed by those who promote devotion to the Marian shrine in Naju.

The warning followed media reports that Julia Kim Yoon and her followers continue to arrange masses, liturgies, and gatherings in private places to encourage public devotion to unrecognized Marian miracles. Julia Kim founded the Naju shrine, located within the jurisdiction of the Gwangju Archdiocese, in the late 1980s. A Protestant-turned-Catholic mother of four, Julia Kim claimed to have received Marian apparitions beginning in the 1980s.

On June 30, 1985, she claimed that her statue of Blessed Virgin Mary began shedding tears. She also claimed to have been miraculously cured of terminal cancer. Her claims spread, and many started to visit the site, prompting the Catholic Church to launch an investigation into the alleged miracles.

In 1998, then-Gwangju Archbishop Victorinus Youn Kong-hi declared that the reported events were “not of supernatural origin.” The Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference has also officially rejected the alleged miracles.

In 2024, the Gwangju Archdiocese warned the faithful about Alexander Kim Dae-sik, a priest expelled from the Salesian congregation in 2022, who reportedly continued to celebrate sacraments illicitly at the Naju center. Despite repeated prohibitions, pilgrims from several Asian countries continue to visit Naju, drawn by reports of healing and mystical phenomena not recognized by the Catholic Church.

The letter alleged that Julia Yoon and her followers not only openly defied the Magisterium (Teachings of the Catholic Church) but also confused many people by falsely claiming the Church’s official approval of the so-called “Miracle of Our Lady of Naju” would soon be given, mentioning the names of the Vatican, the Pope, and high-ranking clergy. 

As 2025 was the 40th anniversary of the Virgin Mary statue in Julia’s house shedding tears, they used the occasion “as an excuse to actively spread false propaganda through various media such as Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook,” the letter said.

“What is even more concerning is that many clergy, including bishops from Southeast Asia, are participating in the prayer meetings they hold, and that young people from abroad who are interested in our country are receiving information related to Julia in Naju through online content without identification ahead of the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day,” the letter said.

The letter urged bishops to refer to the Catholic Bishops’ document “Church’s Teachings on the Issues Related to Julia Yoon of Naju” to anyone seeking information about Naju miracles.

Last year, Malaysian Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching and Singapore Archdiocese warned Catholics from visiting the Naju shrine to avoid “excommunication.”

A new app is now available that lets people confirm that they are alive with a single click. If no such confirmation is received within 48 hours, the app sends a notification to a designated contact. This is how Sileme works, a basic Chinese app that has recently hit the headlines for the high volume of downloads on mobile phones in China, highlighting the plight of millions of Chinese, and not only senior citizens, who live alone in large cities.

The app’s Chinese name is a play on the name of the most popular food delivery app: Ele.me, meaning “Are you hungry?” In Chinese, Sileme sounds very similar to the food delivery app, but means “Are you dead?” Its decidedly blunt name is sparking controversy among some Chinese netizens as they find it too unpleasant and would like it renamed Huo-zhe-me (“Are you alive?”).

But as the semi-official English-language newspaper Global Times notes, most reviews of the app are positive, described as useful not only for the elderly, but also for many young adults who live alone and face certain risks. Among the suggestions for improvement are the addition of heart rate monitoring and automatic alarm detection systems.

Originally launched as a free app, it is now behind a paywall, albeit at the reasonable price of 8 yuan (US$ 1.15). It is also available on the iOS platform for Apple phones outside China under the name Demumu. Today it trended as one of the top two apps most downloaded in the United States, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and among the top four in Australia and Spain in the paid utility app category, likely driven by Chinese users living abroad.

This success has surprised the developers, three men under 30 in Henan Province who last March launched a small business called Yuejing (Zhengzhou) Technical Services Co., with a registered capital of just 100,000 yuan (US$ 14,350). The trio were the first to be surprised by the app’s success. “We feel honoured and deeply grateful to receive such widespread attention,” the team said in a statement.

Are You Dead? describes itself as a “safety company companion… whether you’re a solo office worker, a student living away from home, or anyone choosing a solitary lifestyle”. According to research by real estate institutions cited by the Global Times, by 2030, China could have up to 200 million single-person households, with a rate of living alone exceeding 30 per cent. This segment of the Chinese population no longer includes just older people but also young adults. The greatest danger for this group is that sudden illnesses or accidents may go unnoticed.

These concerns are far from unfounded. Chinese media regularly report cases of people living alone who died in their flats, only to be discovered weeks or even months later, fuelling public anxiety about social isolation. The app thus meets an urgent need, and its very “direct” name immediately highlights the necessity for greater care for those who live alone.

The Putrajaya Court of Appeal  ruled in favour of a Christian politician — Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh — in a defamation case against former police inspector general Musa Hassan, who had publicly accused her of being part of a ‘religious conspiracy’ to weaken Islam.

The verdict overturned a previous High Court decision in 2024 that had rejected her claim. Judge Azimah Omar said the High Court had made errors of law and fact and ordered Musa to pay Yeoh damages of 250,000 Malaysian ringgit (over 50,000 euro, ed.).

The case, which touches on the delicate balance between religious communities in Malaysia, arose from statements made by Musa six years ago during a forum at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), in which he claimed that an unidentified group linked to the Democratic Action Party (DAP) – a non-denominational force that is part of the governing coalition supporting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – was trying to “destroy Islam” and claimed that Yeoh had written a book to turn Malaysia into a “Christian nation”.

Yeoh filed the defamation suit in 2020, arguing that the statements falsely portrayed her as part of a religious conspiracy and exposed her to public ridicule, particularly within the Muslim community.

Judge Azimah ruled that Musa’s statements were clearly defamatory and that the High Court had wrongly attempted to minimise their impact. ‘The fact that the plaintiff in the case managed to overcome the effects of defamatory statements does not exempt the defendant from liability,’ she said, rejecting the lower court’s reasoning that Yeoh’s subsequent victory in the 2022 Segambut parliamentary elections would neutralise the alleged damage.

The Court of Appeal also rejected the High Court’s conclusion that Musa’s statements did not constitute defamation because of the ‘low audience’ of the Facebook Live broadcast. ‘It is still a publication, even if it was heard by only one person,’ Azimah said. ‘We cannot understand how one can refer to the scale of dissemination to dismiss the case. This would set a dangerous precedent.’

She also noted that students and university staff were present at the forum, emphasising the seriousness of the allegations and their potential influence. The court also noted that Musa had explicitly linked Yeoh to the unnamed group he accused of undermining Islam, thus insinuating political and religious motives without evidence.

Judge Azimah criticised the High Court for basing its judgement on the testimony of Kamarul Zaman Yusoff, a single university lecturer called by Musa as a defence witness. She stated that Kamarul was not an expert and had only expressed personal opinions, equivalent to mere rumours or hearsay.

‘No evidence was produced to support the alleged “Christianisation”,’ she added, noting that there was no evidence that Yeoh had used her book, Becoming Hannah: A Personal Journey, to propagate Christianity or undermine Islam.

Speaking to reporters after the ruling, Yeoh expressed gratitude for the decision, saying she had lived with the consequences of the defamatory statements for six years.

A financial crisis has halted the Catholic Church’s efforts to reclaim the site of Bangladesh’s first church, leaving the 426-year-old foundation in Satkhira occupied and unpreserved. Two Portuguese Jesuit priests — Father Francesco Fernandes and Father Domingo de Sousa — built the country’s first church at Iswaripur in the Sundarbans Forest area in the present-day southern Satkhira district. They dedicated it on Jan. 1, 1600, as the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus.

The priests built the church with the permission and funding of the then-Raja (King) Pratapaditya. At the time, many Portuguese soldiers worked under Pratapaditya and worshipped at the church. The church no longer exists, and a Muslim family has since settled on the land. However, the district’s official website still preserves its history online.

According to the Bangladesh government’s website, many Portuguese soldiers serving in Pratapaditya’s army contributed funds for the church’s construction. Additionally, Pratapaditya assisted in building the place of worship for Christians in his capital, with construction completed in December 1599.

“The bishop took the initiative to take over the site on behalf of the Catholic Church and offered to pay for it, but those living there did not agree. The then-bishop did not pursue it further for some reason,” said Father Philip Mondal, who oversees the Khulna Diocese’s land in the area.

The late Bishop Michael D’Rozario, who led the Khulna Diocese from 1970 to 2005, was the first to attempt to save the church site. Mondal noted he is unsure if the bishop sought administrative assistance at that time. “But now, to take over this place, we need the support of the administration and a lot of money, which the Khulna Diocese cannot provide,” Mondal told CNA. However, the priest believes that with government backing and external financial support, the Church in Bangladesh could reclaim this historically unique site.

Christians make up less than 1% of Bangladesh’s 170 million people, a tiny minority in the predominantly Muslim country. The Catholic community, with approximately 400,000 members, is the single-largest Christian group.

During its pilgrimage in Asia, this cross has given many people love and peace, consolation and hope, shining the true light. Now, through the pilgrimage to Seoul, we ask the Lord that the true light of Christ may spread widely in Seoul and throughout the world, so that the love, mercy and consolation of Christ may reach all humanity.’

With these words – reported by the Korean Catholic Times – the organising committee of World Youth Day Seoul 2027 gave thanks for the arrival of the World Youth Day Cross and the Marian icon – gifted by St John Paul II to young people – at the Chapel of the Holy Family in Myeongdong Cathedral, on 20 December last. The celebration marked the beginning of the Korean stage of the World  Youth Day symbols pilgrimage following their journey across Asia.

During the celebration, 60 participants formed a ‘community rosary,’ becoming the beads of the rosary themselves, and offered this prayer in remembrance of their brothers and sisters who are suffering in various parts of the world for different reasons. The participants prayed for those who suffer from poverty, war, the climate crisis and ethnic conflicts, and for those who, immersed in the values of the world, have forgotten the love of Christ.

The auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul, Monsignor Job Koo Yo-bi, who presided over the celebration, encouraged the young people by saying, ‘I invite you to contemplate these symbols often and to prepare for World Youth Day in Seoul with the strength that comes from prayer.’

The pilgrimage to the Asian Churches began in Bangladesh and continued through Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, East Timor, Thailand and Indonesia, ending in Australia. To organise the pilgrimage, the Committee coordinated the countries visited and the calendar through the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), also sending young Koreans to create a network with young Asians. The pilgrimage of the WYD symbols in the Korean Church will begin in January 2026 in the Archdiocese of Seoul, pass through dioceses throughout the country, and conclude in May 2027 in the Diocese of Jeonju.

The ceasefire that ended the ‘twelve-day war’ between Israel and Iran ‘has not dispelled the spectre of renewed hostilities’, so much so that ‘the belligerents are preparing for the worst’ and the question seems to be ‘not if, but when’. This is what Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan of the Latins, writes in a reflection sent to AsiaNews on the theme of peace in view of World Day on 1 January, from a region ravaged by ‘tensions and conflicts’ that could soon erupt again.

‘Peace should not be reduced to a simple opposition to war, just as disarmament is not reduced to the antithesis of armament,’ observes the cardinal, while winds of (a new) war with the Jewish state are blowing in the Islamic Republic. And even within the country, there is no shortage of repression and imprisonment, as shown by the recent sentence of over 50 years for five Christians “guilty” of practising their faith, or the escalation of executions, the number of which in 2025 more than doubled compared to the previous year. More than 1,900 death sentences have been carried out, according to data from the Iranian-Norwegian NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), well above the 975 in 2024.

Nevertheless, it remains an ideal and a goal, even more so, the cardinal observes, when one thinks of the ‘equivalents in Hebrew, shalom, and Arabic/Persian, salam. They indicate fullness, integrity, well-being, prosperity, health, security and harmony – not only the absence of war, but the presence of a fully realised life’. In this context, the warning at the end of the reflection becomes even more urgent: that peace may be real “in our hearts, in our communities and in our world”.

Thailand and Cambodia have signed an agreement to implement a ceasefire to stop weeks of border hostilities. The truce, signed by Thai and Cambodian Defence Ministers, puts on hold the worst conflict in years between the two countries. In 20 days of armed clashes, just over 100 people have been killed and more than half a million displaced.

In addition to ending fighting, the accord commits each party to no further military actions and to no breaches of the counterpart’s airspace for military purposes.

Only Thailand had conducted air raids during combat, striking locations in Cambodia.

Renewed fighting broke out early December after the collapse of a ceasefire that U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had helped negotiate to halt a previous round of clashes. Mr Trump pushed through the first deal, threatening to deny Thailand and Cambodia trade privileges unless both countries agreed. The U.S. President named the agreement the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords”. It ordered each party to withdraw its artillery from the contested territory and to set up an interim panel of observers to oversee the process. However, Thailand stopped complying with it in November after Thai soldiers suffered mine blast injuries.

An observer team from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will monitor the new ceasefire and both countries will provide direct coordination. Under the new terms, the return of people displaced from affected border ‌zones will be guaranteed and neither side will use any force against civilians. Thailand will also free 18 Cambodian soldiers in its custody since the July clashes if the truce is fully upheld for 72 hours, according to the deal. Since the fighting began, hundreds of thousands of people have fled from stricken areas on both sides of the border. Each side accused the other of inciting the clashes and declared that they were acting in self-defense. December 27^th  pact, however, will not affect any boundary-setting activities in progress between the parties and the assignment of contested territories will be left to bilateral negotiations.

From 16 to 18 December 2025, Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, visited the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, bringing with him the greetings and blessing of Pope Leo XIV. It was a short but highly meaningful journey, understood by the local Church as a concrete sign of the Pope’s closeness to a community made up largely of migrants and situated within a complex multicultural and interreligious context.

Central to the visit was participation in the Simbang Gabi celebrations, the Filipino Christmas novena held from 15 to 23 December, which in the Vicariate represents one of the moments of greatest ecclesial participation. Cardinal Tagle presided over Masses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, attended by more than 30,000 and 18,000 faithful respectively. These numbers reflect not only the vitality of the Filipino community, the largest in the Vicariate, but also the role of the Church as a place of belonging and spiritual support for workers and families far from their countries of origin.

Alongside the liturgical moments, ample space was devoted to pastoral meetings. Cardinal Tagle met with the Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, with priests, office directors, and leaders of the linguistic communities, reflecting together on the challenges of a Church called to safeguard unity within diversity.  A recurring theme was interculturality. Cardinal Tagle encouraged the faithful of different languages and traditions to take part together in ministries, learning to “walk together” and to place the richness of their cultures at the service of the entire ecclesial community. This invitation echoes the image of the “joyful polyphony of faith,” dear to recent Church teaching and especially meaningful in a migratory context such as that of the Arabian Peninsula. During the visit there were also moments of direct listening, particularly with representatives of the Filipino community and with the pastoral council of Saint Mary’s Church in Dubai, considered the largest Catholic parish in the world.

Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa has officially begun his new role as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The CBCP elected Garcera during its 130th plenary assembly on July 5 in a break from the conference’s tradition of electing the previous vice president, in this case Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig, to serve in the role. The last time the conference opted not to elect its vice president was in 2011.  Garcera, who has advocated for synodality within the Filipino Church, comes to the leadership position amid national instability due to government corruption and natural disasters. Garcera’s predecessor, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, served two four-year terms. Archbishop Julius Tonel of Zamboanga will act as Garcera’s vice president, and their terms will run until Nov. 30, 2027. “I hope you will pray for me, because the cross that was placed on me is very heavy,” Garcera said in a video message on Facebook after his election.