ASIA – Asian Bishops’ appeal: “Stop a war with irreversible consequences”

Bangkok – The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences is calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East conflict, which could have “irreversible human and economic consequences” worldwide. In a statement issued by the FABC Central Committee, based in Bangkok, the Asian bishops expressed their “grave concern over the renewed escalation of violence in the Middle East,” referring to the military attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran and the reactions that have affected numerous countries in the region.
The statement sent to Fides, signed by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, President of the FABC, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Vice President, and Cardinal Isao Kikuchi SVD, Secretary General of the FABC, begins with a quote from the Gospel: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” .
“We echo the urgent appeal of Pope Leo XIV,” the Asian bishops stated, “who reminds us that peace cannot be built on threats or weapons that sow destruction, pain, and death.” And they affirmed: “Stability cannot arise from fear, nor can justice be secured through violence. Only sincere, responsible, and sustained dialogue can open pathways toward a just and lasting peace.” From the perspective of the countries and peoples of Asia, the FABC statement reads: “From our Asian context, marked by rich religious diversity, deep cultural traditions, and the daily struggles of the poor, we affirm that peace is not merely the absence of war. It is the fruit of justice, the work of dialogue, and the patient building of trust among peoples. War, by contrast, disproportionately wounds the most vulnerable: the poor, the displaced, children, and future generations.”
The bishops’ statement contains three specific appeals: “We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to exercise moral responsibility, resisting the spiral of escalation that leads only to deeper suffering and irreversible loss.” “We urge the restoration of diplomacy as the primary instrument for resolving conflicts,” it continues. “Dialogue, however difficult, remains the only path that respects the dignity of peoples and the sovereignty of nations.” Finally, the bishops of Asia encourage “interreligious solidarity, especially among leaders of the great religious traditions present in the region, to witness together to the sacredness of life.” “We renew our commitment to stand with the poor and the victims of war, whose cries often go unheard amid geopolitical calculations,” they affirm. “Their suffering must remain at the center of all efforts toward peace.”
All local churches throughout Asia are invited in this season of Lent to “intensify prayer, fasting, and concrete acts of solidarity for peace.” “In our journey as pilgrims of hope,” the bishops, who entrust the peoples of Asia to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, conclude, “we refuse to surrender to despair. We believe that even in the darkest hours, the Spirit continues to open paths toward reconciliation.”

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