Here is a roundup of world news you may have missed this past week:
Zambia bishops instruct clergy and faithful to stay out of partisan politics
Catholic bishops in Zambia issued a pastoral letter this past week telling priests to refrain from engaging in party politics as preparations for the country’s August presidential and general elections begin.
“The Church is not and must never be a mouthpiece for any political party or candidate. Our duty is to form consciences, promote the common good, and speak truth to power,” the letter stated, adding that “clergy who align themselves with political interests risk compromising their sacred vocation.”
The bishops further emphasized that Church property should never be used for political campaigns or meetings, that priests should never accept political donations in exchange for influence, and that preaching from the pulpit remain centered on the Gospel rather than politics.
Vietnam has an abundance of priests, lack of missionaries, report says
The Catholic Church in Vietnam is facing a critical lack in missionaries despite having massive vocational growth, a report this week said.
There is “a dire shortage of the missionary spirit required to reach the ‘peripheries’” in Vietnam, according to a UCA News article on Tuesday by Catholic commentator Petrus Po.
Though the country in January welcomed 76 new transitional deacons, who are all expected to be ordained in the next year to the priesthood, Po observed that Vietnam’s clergy are heavily concentrated in urban centers, leaving areas such as the Central Highlands and northwestern areas to “wait months for a single Mass.”
Amid shortages in rural areas, Po said the local Church should “embrace” the Vietnamese bishops’ designation of 2026 as the year of “Every Christian as a Missionary Disciple” by sending more priests to live in rural areas rather than merely “lending” them.
Rising violence in Pakistan prompts increased worry among Christians
Catholics in Pakistan are experiencing heightened anxiety as conflict between armed militant separatist groups and Pakistan’s security forces continues to strike closer to home.
Amar Mansoor Bhatti, a 35-year old Catholic man, told UCA news that he awoke to the sound of gunfire and explosions this past week from the armed clash that has left more than 190 people dead including civilians.
“The firing continued for more than eight hours until late afternoon. We stayed inside. We were afraid to step outside the house until Sunday morning [Feb. 1],” he said.
The ongoing violence has included suicide bombing attacks, grenade strikes, gunfire, and more. A Christian woman, Maria Shamoon, was abducted from her home in Balochistan by separatists before being later rescued, the report noted.
Kenya bishop cautions politicians against disrespecting places of worship
The auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wote, Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe, has cautioned politicians against showing disrespect to places of worship, warning that such actions amount to mocking God and undermining the sanctity of the churches in Kenya, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported Wednesday.
Kamomoe issued a stern rebuke of political figures during his homily on Sunday following an attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a Sunday church service at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Othaya, Nyeri County, saying: “The leaders of this country don’t respect the sanctuaries of the Lord … That is mocking God, that is contempt, which is very unfortunate, and if they don’t change, they will see the results.”
Filipino priest tapped to serve as new auxiliary bishop for Perth Archdiocese
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Philippine-born priest Father Nelson Po to serve as an auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Perth.
“It was a big surprise to me. It was overwhelming and surreal because I have never dreamed of becoming a bishop. I went straight to the chapel and became very emotional. I felt so inadequate and unworthy, but I know that God’s strength will carry me through,” Nelson said regarding the news of his appointment, according to a Feb. 2 press release.
Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, SDB, welcomed the announcement, saying Nelson is “greeted with great joy and excitement by the whole Catholic community of the archdiocese.”
Shifts in Syria’s Jazira region: Calm returns, crises remain
The entry of Syrian security forces into Qamishli, following similar deployments in Hasakah and Ayn al-Arab, marks a tangible step in implementing understandings between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces under international pressure, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Wednesday.
For local Christians and other communities, the move has brought cautious relief, particularly with the end of compulsory service previously imposed under the label of “self-defense duty.” Yet stability on paper contrasts sharply with daily realities.
Church sources report that around 12% of Jazira’s Christians emigrated in 2025, driven by insecurity and crushing costs, while those who remain face severe water shortages, near-total groundwater depletion, prolonged power cuts, environmental pollution, and persistent security incidents.
Eastern Christian youth thrive in the Australian diaspora
From Melbourne to Auckland, young people from Eastern Churches are finding creative ways to live their faith far from their ancestral homelands, ACI MENA recently reported.
The Syriac Catholic youth festival in Australia combined prayer, theater, and open discussion on anxiety, technology, and Christian identity, drawing strong participation.
Meanwhile, Chaldean youth gatherings in Australia and New Zealand focused on strengthening communion, daily liturgical life, and reflection on faith within multicultural societies. These initiatives show that, even in the diaspora, Eastern Christian youth are not merely preserving tradition but actively reshaping it for new contexts.
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