Catholic bishops from across Asia have convened in Jakarta for the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), opening the weeklong event with a call for the Church to act as a “bridge-builder” in a region characterized by rapid social change, poverty, migration, and religious diversity. Held from July 20 to 26, 2026, the assembly is themed The Call to Synodal Conversion and the Mission to Be Bridges and Bridge-Builders in Asia,
according to ucanews.com.
Regional Representation and Objectives
The high-level gathering includes more than 120 cardinals and bishops representing 22 episcopal conferences and ecclesiastical jurisdictions. Participants include representatives from the Holy See, theologians, observers, and pastoral experts. The assembly brings together prelates from various regions, including India (CBCI), the Philippines (CBCP), Indonesia (KWI), Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Taiwan, and the Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (BCMSB) conference, as well as Laos-Cambodia and Central Asia. Additionally, delegates are present from the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), and the Dioceses of Hong Kong and Macau, according to The Jakarta Post.
The primary goal of the assembly is to produce a final document that provides pastoral guidance for local churches. Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr. of San Pablo in the Philippines, who chairs the FABC Office of Social Communication, stated that the plenary is intended as a genuine synodal experience
focusing on discernment, prayer, and conversations in the Spirit.
Commitment to Synodality and Unity
A central theme of the gathering is the synodal spirit,
which emphasizes a Church that walks together.
Father Frans Kristi Adi Prasetya, secretary of the Local Organizing Committee, noted that the reception of delegates was designed to express this spirit, treating participants as brothers and sisters before they entered the meeting hall to reflect on the challenges facing the Church. This approach follows previous milestones, including the global Synod on Synodality and the FABC’s 50th-anniversary conference in Bangkok.
Clarence Devadass has highlighted the need for unity amidst Asia’s diversity. He stated that while differences can become obstacles, focusing on what unites the Church allows it to grow. Devadass emphasized that the Church belongs to all the baptized—including bishops, priests, religious, and laypeople—and that apathy regarding the Church’s problems has no place in the community, according to Rvasia.
Interreligious Dialogue and Social Challenges
The assembly’s location in Jakarta serves as a symbolic stage to showcase a Church thriving amidst pluralism. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan in the Philippines, FABC vice president, suggested that Asian Catholics should transition from speaking of other religions
to neighbor religions.
The assembly is tasked with confronting several pressing regional and global crises, including:
- The rise of religious intolerance and the protection of vulnerable minorities.
- Economic precarity and the disproportionate effects of climate change.
- The systemic empowerment of Asian youth.
The Role and Mission of the FABC
The FABC operates not as a governing body above bishops’ conferences, but as a fellowship of collegiality
designed to strengthen communion among local Churches. According to Fr. One practical example of this mission is the establishment of a network of Catholic research institutions across the continent to facilitate collaboration and shared resources.
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