(RVA News): As bishops from across Asia prepare to gather for the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences [FABC] in Jakarta, Indonesia, Archbishop Simon Poh of Malaysia, chairperson of the FABC Office of Evangelisation [FABC-OE], called on Catholics across the continent to become “neighbours of hope” by sharing the compassion, mercy, and healing of Christ in a diverse and multicultural land.
In his message ahead of the July 20–26 assembly, Archbishop Poh reflected on Asia as a continent shaped by diverse cultures, ethnic communities, and religious traditions. He noted that followers of different faiths have lived side by side for centuries, even as the region has also experienced conflicts, colonisation, and divisions.
Despite these challenges, he said, Asian societies continue to express a strong desire for peaceful coexistence, harmony, and mutual respect among communities.
The archbishop said the upcoming FABC Plenary Assembly carries forward the spirit of Pope Francis’ historic visit to Jakarta in September 2025, during which the late pope called on the Church to strengthen fraternity, dialogue, and solidarity among peoples of different backgrounds.
“Through this FABC Assembly, the mission begun by Pope Francis continues for the Church to be bridge-builders between people of all faiths, cultures, and nationalities in Asia,” Archbishop Poh said.
Through this FABC Assembly, the mission begun by Pope Francis continues for the Church to be bridge-builders between people of all faiths, cultures, and nationalities in Asia
Archbishop Poh
The archbishop said the Church’s hope is that the compassion, reconciliation, and healing love of Christ may become visible through the lives of Catholics and Church leaders across Asia.
From the perspective of evangelisation, he emphasised that the Church’s mission is not only to proclaim the gospel but also to bring Christ’s compassion, mercy, reconciliation, and healing into society. The FABC Office of Evangelisation seeks to encourage Catholics across Asia to share the Good News through a way of life rooted in friendship and accompaniment, reaching out “one neighbour at a time,” he said.
Reflecting on the parable of the Good Samaritan, Archbishop Poh said that Christians are called to become good neighbours who bring God’s compassion to those around them, especially to people experiencing suffering, injustice, and exclusion.
He also highlighted the FABC-OE Mission Congress, “The Great Pilgrimage of Hope,” held in Penang, Malaysia, in November 2025, which explored an Asian approach to witnessing the Gospel through dialogue, relationships, and compassionate presence.
“Being born in Bethlehem, which is in Asia Minor, Jesus is truly an Asian,” Archbishop Poh noted, recalling how Jesus shared God’s love through stories, humble encounters, healing, and forgiveness.
Looking ahead, he said the FABC Office of Evangelisation will continue responding to Pope Francis’ call in Evangelii Gaudium [Joy of the Gospel] to reach the peripheries. Together with the FABC Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and the FABC Office of Theological Concerns, the office will organise a conference on “Gospel and Indigenous Living Traditions” at the Camillian Pastoral Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 2–5, gathering bishops, priests, and lay leaders from across Asia.
The initiative aims to amplify indigenous voices, build bridges between the gospel and indigenous cultures, and learn from communities that have long practised sustainable ways of caring for ancestral lands amid the challenges of climate change.
Archbishop Poh said the Church’s hope is that the compassion, reconciliation, and healing love of Christ may become visible through the lives of Catholics and Church leaders across Asia, thus contributing to a more peaceful and harmonious society.
