(RVA News): The Holy See Press Office announced on April 9 that Pope Leo XIV appointed three prominent Asian Church leaders to serve as members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. The appointments were announced on April 9.
The newly appointed members from Asia are: Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, Section for First Evangelisation and the New Particular Churches; Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, archbishop of Goa and Damão, India, and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences.
Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit, bishop of San Pablo, Philippines, and president of the Office of Social Communications of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences.
Also appointed was Archbishop Ryan Jimenez of Agaña, Guam, a Filipino currently serving in the Pacific region. His inclusion further highlights the growing contribution of Asian clergy to the Church’s global communications ministry, particularly in bridging cultures and engaging diverse communities across Asia and Oceania.
The Dicastery for Communication plays a crucial role in the Church’s mission, coordinating how the Catholic Church communicates with the faithful and the wider world. Its responsibilities range from managing Vatican media outlets to promoting ethical and effective communication strategies globally. The body serves as a bridge between the Church’s teachings and modern society, ensuring that the message of the gospel reaches all corners of the world in a clear, engaging, and timely manner.
For the Church in Asia, these appointments signal a strengthened voice and increased representation in the Vatican’s communications ministry. Cardinal Tagle, Cardinal Ferrão, and Bishop Maralit bring decades of pastoral, educational, and media experience, particularly in engaging diverse and growing Catholic populations across Asia. Their presence on the dicastery is expected to foster more culturally sensitive communication, promote evangelisation through modern media, and highlight the concerns and perspectives of Asian Catholics in the global Church.
“The inclusion of these distinguished leaders from Asia underscores the universal nature of the Church,” said Father John Mi Shen, executive secretary of the Office of Social Communications of the FABC and programme director of Radio Veritas Asia.
“It reflects Pope Leo XIV’s commitment to ensuring that all regions of the Church are heard in shaping its communications strategy,” Father Mi Shen added.
Other appointments include: Fridolin Ambongo Cardinal Besungu, archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, president of the Symposium des Conférences Episcopales d’Afrique et de Madagascar; Cristóbal Cardinal López Romero, archbishop of Rabat, Morocco; José Cardinal Tolentino de Mendonça, prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education; Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangeliszation in the World; Bishop Bernardin Francis Mfumbasa of Kondoa, Tanzania, president of the Pan African Episcopal Committee for Communications; Bishop Lizardo Estrada Herrera, auxiliary bishop and vicar general of Cuzco, Peru, secretary general of the Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano y Caribeño; the Franciscan Father Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the Papal Household; and the distinguished Dr. Helen Osman, president of SIGNIS. With these appointments, the Vatican continues its effort to strengthen the Church’s presence in the digital era, fostering dialogue, transparency, and outreach across continents, while amplifying the voices of local Churches within the global Catholic community.
