Pope Francis PHOTO: (@Pontifex) / Twitter
August 22 2022
To My Venerable Brother Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences
As the Federetion of Asian Bishops’ Conferences marks the fiftieth anniversary of its establishment and inaugurates a season of spiritual preparation for the celebration of its first General Conference in October next, I send warm greetings and prayerful good wishes to you, your brother Bishops, and all taking part in this significant ecclesial event. It is my hope that the FABC 50 General Conference will renew the Churches in Asia in Fraternal communion and in missionary zeal for the spread of the Gospel among the richly diverse people, cultures, and social realities of the vast Asian continent.
The theme chosen for the General Conference – Journeying Together as Peoples of Asia… “and they went different way” – is more fitting within the border context of the synodal path of listening, dialogue and discernment undertaken by the universal Church in these years of preparation for the next Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. I pray that the deliberations of the General Conference will enable your local Churches to develop, within the polyhedric unity of the People of God (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 237), creatively “different ways” to proclaim the joy of the Gospel, to form new generations of missionary disciples and to labour for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom of universal holiness, justice, and peace.
With these sentiments, I invoke upon the forthcoming assembly a rich outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Commending you, your Brother Bishops and all these entrusted to your pastoral care to the prayers of Mary, Mother of the Church, I cordially send my blessing as a pledge of wisdom, grace and peace I the Lord.
From the Vatican, 5 June 2022.
