Indian Cardinal Filipe Neri elected next president of FABC

The Central Committee of the Federation of Bishops Conferences of Asia (FABC) meeting in Bangkok on February 22 elected Indian Cardinal Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão of Goa and Damão as the next President and Bishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David of Kalookan, Philippines, as the next Vice President.

Divine Word Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo, Japan, has secured a second term as Secretary General.

All three terms of office will commence in January 2025.

“Kindly remember bishops in Asia in your prayers,” said Archbishop Kikuchi. He is also the president of Caritas Internationalis, the charitable organization of the Catholic Church, elected on May 13, 2023.

Cardinal Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Damão, western India, is also the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI, Latin Rite).

Pope Francis elevated Ferrão to Cardinal on August 27, 2022.

Ferrão will succeed Salesian Cardinal Charles Bo, the incumbent FABC president. He is also the archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar.

Bishop David of Kalookan, Philippines, is also president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Established in 1970, the FABC is a voluntary association of Catholic episcopal conferences in South, Southeast, East, and Central Asia. The federation promotes cooperation and shared accountability for the well-being of the local community and the Church.

The Holy See approved of its establishment. Its goal is to instill in its members a sense of shared accountability and solidarity for Asia's society and the Church's well-being. Acceptance of the Federation's decisions is a sign of collegial responsibility; they have no legal force.

In October 2022, FABC celebrated its 50th year of existence at Baan Phu Waan, the Pastoral Training Center of the Bangkok Archdiocese, Thailand.

On February 20, the FABC Central Committee meeting kicked off at the Camillian Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. 

The first part, February 20–21, was the business meetings of the Central Committee with the FABC offices.

The second part, February 22, is the actual meeting of the Central Committee (made up of FABC officers and presidents of episcopal conferences).

The meetings are still underway. The participants are also reflecting on the FABC50, the Bangkok Document, and the way forward.