05/12/2025
Federation of the Asian Bishops Conference - Mission Congress
Malaysia, Penang, from 27 to 30 November 2025.
THE GREAT PILGRIMAGE OF HOPE was the second conference, after the Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Ecclesia in Asia” of St. Pope John Paul II (1999), inviting representatives from all Catholics of Asian countries. This Congress focused on the new ways of telling the story of Jesus across Asia. The theme of this Congress was “Journeying together as peoples of Asia… and they went a different way” (Mt 2:12). The Asian continent has the presence of ancient
religions and philosophies, the diversity of cultures, languages, traditions, and customs. For us, Asia is the sacred land where Jesus was born, lived, died, and resurrected. And Asia is the birthplace of the Christian faith.
Summary from the Conference: Result of the two Conversations in the Spirit.
“The Spirit is calling the Church in Asia to deepen its interior life in Christ, to listen with compassion, to journey together in synodality, to witness to hope through humble and courageous service, to build bridges across cultures and religions, and to proclaim the Gospel through lives rooted in prayer, unity, and
love.
From now until the 2033 Jubilee and beyond, the Spirit urges the Church in Asia
to:
Know Jesus more deeply.
Live His story authentically.
Tell His story humbly and bravely.
Listen to people with compassion.
Serve the poor with love.
Evangelize creatively, especially digitally.
Walk humbly together in synodality.
Be Jesus’ presence in every culture and context.
Thus, the story of Jesus will be seen, heard, and lived across Asia, through transformed lives that radiate His love.”
Talk by Mar Raphael Thattil
On 28 th November 2025, Mar Raphael Thattil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church gave a talk on the theme, A Call for a Renewed Personal Encounter. This theme is taken from Pope Francis’ words in Evangelii Gaudium, No. 3: “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed
personal encounter with Jesus Christ...” He concluded his talk with the Statement, “Asia, with its immense population and profound religious traditions, is spiritually rich. In the vastness and diversity of this continent, we recognize that evangelization is not simply one
task among many; it is central to the life of the Church which is done using every available facilities and resources.
With renewed personal encounter with Christ, let us go forth to be witnesses of Christ’s love in word and deed. With deep conviction let us believe that the Gospel will take root in Asia’s soul, transforming this continent into a beacon of hope, peace, and faith for the whole world. Asia, arise and encounter Christ anew— let this continent become the great harvest of faith in the Third Millennium.”
The Delegation from the Syro-Malabar Church
The delegates included around 900 Catholics from Asia, including 10 Cardinals, 103 Bishops, 149 Priests, 75 nuns, 13 Deacons, and 550 lay people, for the Congress which was conducted at The Light Hotel. The organizers had invited Mar Raphael Thattil, the Major Archbishop and Mar Andrews Thazhath, the CBCI President as special invitees. Including them, the Delegation from the
Syro-Malabar Church to the Great Pilgrimage of Hope included 13 delegates. However, there were more delegates also from the Syro-Malabar Church representing other groups.
