Pope Leo Urges Asia’s Church to Build Communion Ahead of FABC Assembly

Vatican City, July 12, 2026: Pope Leo XIV has called on the Church in Asia to become a "builder of communion" and to place God at the centre of its mission ahead of the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), which will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 20–26 July 2026.

In a letter to Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop Emeritus of Bombay and the Pope's Special Envoy to the assembly, the Holy Father urged bishops and the faithful to "be builders of communion, not architects of Babel" and to serve the coming Kingdom of God rather than pursue projects destined to fail.

Echoing his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo encouraged the Church to place God "on the horizon of our actions and the human person at the centre of our decisions". He also urged Christians not to fear "getting their hands dirty at the building site of our time", expressing hope that the Church in Asia would continue to flourish in both faith and humanity.

The Pope highlighted the Church's mission to stand with the poor, the sick, migrants and the vulnerable, describing them as the "cornerstone" of a society rooted in justice and peace. Quoting Psalm 85, he said that love and truth must meet, and justice and peace must embrace in building a welcoming common home.

Pope Leo further appealed to the faithful to reject division and work together for the common good, calling on humanity to "halt the construction of yet another Babel" and instead build a world where every person reflects God's presence and dignity.

The letter, signed on 24 June, also noted that the request for the appointment of a papal envoy had come from Cardinal Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão, Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa and Damão.

The Pope concluded by entrusting Cardinal Gracias and the forthcoming FABC Assembly to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph.

Courtesy: Vatican News