In late November 2025, the Malaysian city of Penang became the vibrant hub of a historic continental gathering as over 900 Catholic leaders and faithful from across Asia convened for the Great Pilgrimage of Hope (GPH).
A few days after the Archdiocese of Singapore issued a stern warning advising Catholics not to visit the controversial Marian shrine in Naju, South Korea, under penalty of excommunication, the Archbishop of Kuching, Malaysia, has likewise urged Catholics in his archdiocese to visit only designated churches and recognized Catholic pilgrimage sites instead of Naju.
On Nov 5, the third day of the Fifth General Assembly of the Catholic Church in Indonesia (SAGKI V), held in North Jakarta from November 3–7, Church leaders, theologians, and lay delegates reflected on how the Church can continue walking with the nation in a spirit of synodality amid Indonesia’s changing social and political landscape.
On November 4, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, met with the leadership of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, including Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, Archbishop Dr. Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, and other senior bishops.
For most of the world, the Maldives is paradise, a scattering of white-sand islands surrounded by turquoise seas that lure millions of visitors each year. But for Maldivian environmentalist Shaahina Ali, paradise is also a warning.
Cardinal Michael Felix Czerny SJ, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, expressed deep concern over the prolonged suffering of Rohingya refugees and internal migrants during a press conference at the CBCB Centre in Dhaka on November 4.
The outgoing Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia, Archbishop Piero Pioppo, delivered a heartfelt message to Indonesian Catholics, saying that his eight years of pastoral and diplomatic service in the country have strengthened his spirit as he prepares to begin his new mission as the Holy See’s envoy to Spain and Andorra later this week.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) has released a new doctrinal document on November 4, clarifying the correct understanding of certain Marian titles in relation to the mystery of salvation.
Cardinal Sebastian Francis, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang, Malaysia, will lead the beatification ceremony of Mother Eliswa Vakayil of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a 19th-century nun from Kerala renowned for her pioneering role in women’s religious life and lifelong dedication to the poor.
A day after Tropical Storm Tino barreled through the Philippines’ central and eastern regions with heavy rainfall and strong winds of not less than 150 kilometers per hour, the Cebu archbishop has called for repentance and renewal.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the Archbishop of Yangon, marked his 77th birthday with a solemn Eucharistic Celebration at St. Mary’s Cathedral on October 29, 2025.
The Fifth National Assembly of the Catholic Church in Indonesia (SAGKI), which began on November 3, opened with a clarion call to become a listening Church.
Safeena Husain, founder of India’s Educate Girls and one of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, delivered a stirring lecture on November 4 at the Ramon Magsaysay Center in Manila, Philippines, calling on Asia and the world to ensure that every girl receives the education she deserves.
The Tamil and Telugu versions of the award-winning Hindi movie “The Face of the Faceless” will be released in more than 60 theatres on November 21, 2025, bringing to life the inspiring story of Blessed Rani Maria Vattal, a Franciscan Clarist nun and devoted social worker who was martyred in 1995 for her mission among the poor.
At the Solemn Installation Ceremony of the First Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Faridabad, held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, on Nov 3, Federal Minister Kiren Rijiju praised the Catholic Church for its significant role in education and social development, saying that the Church “does not convert people but spreads knowledge.”
Cardinal Michael Felix Czerny, S.J., Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (Vatican City State), visited the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar to observe ongoing humanitarian efforts and express solidarity with the displaced Rohingya community.
On his way to Castel Gandolfo on November 3, Pope Leo made a special stop at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome to pray at the tomb of Pope Francis and before the revered Marian icon Salus Populi Romani.
The Diocese of Tangshan in China’s Hebei Province organized a Eucharistic Congress from October 24 to 25, drawing clergy, religious, and lay faithful from 45 parishes under the theme, “I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:35).
The Diocese of Jiangxi in south-central China observed All Souls’ Day with heartfelt remembrance of the departed faithful, turning prayer and acts of charity into living expressions of faith and love.
On November 2, All Souls’ Day, the faithful of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, gathered to remember not only their departed loved ones but also the Kandhamal martyrs, those who lost their lives during the anti-Christian violence of 2007–2008.
In a creative effort to protect the environment and raise public awareness, members of the Tamil Nadu AICUF, together with various Religious Congregations in Tamil Nadu, South India, will embark on a historic cycling awareness journey from Kanyakumari to Chennai from November 5 to 20, 2025.
