Archbishop Kikuchi of Tokyo Appeals for Japanese Society to Recognize that Life from Conception to Death Is Invaluable (from Papal Flight)

Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo, warns some of his population risks extinction due to cultural standards and has made a strong appeal to recognize protecting life from conception to natural death.

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‘Work takes priority over religion in Japan’, says Oblate priest ahead of Pope’s visit

Ahead of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to Japan, an OMI missionary priest explores how the face of the local Catholic Church is changing and the challenges of preaching the Gospel where people give priority to work, not religion.

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From child prostitution to nuclear arms, Pope has a big agenda in Asia

When Pope Francis embarks on the 32nd trip of his pontificate Tuesday, headed towards Thailand and Japan, he will once again be visiting nations where Catholics are a small minority. In both countries, there’s one Catholic for every 200 people, as opposed to roughly one for five in the United States.

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Pope Francis is going to Japan and Thailand: Here’s what you need to know

Pope Francis returns to Asia on Nov. 19 for a visit to Thailand and Japan, two predominantly Buddhist countries where Christians remain a tiny minority. He goes to encourage the small Catholic community in each country, foster dialogue with the other religions of these lands and promote peace through a call for the elimination of nuclear arms.

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Pope Francis Sends Video Message to People of Japan

Below is the text of the video message sent by Pope Francis to the people of Japan on the occasion of his upcoming Apostolic Trip, November 23-26, 2019. In the video, the Holy Father stresses the theme of the visit, “Protect All Life” and suffering caused by nuclear war.

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Pope considering adding ‘sin against ecology’ to Church’s catechism

Speaking to a group of lawyers on Friday, Pope Francis said that the Catholic Church is contemplating the introduction of “ecological sin” to the compendium of Church teaching.

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Catholicism in the Land of the Rising Sun (and declining population)

Japanese Catholics are such a small minority—less than half of 1 percent—that sustaining the faith throughout succeeding familial generations has been difficult. When Pope Francis visits Japan this November 23-26, he will be received by a highly resilient Catholic community – one that endured centuries of violent persecution under anti-Christian leadership and, more recently, an atomic bomb drop on Nagasaki, the nation’s longtime Catholic epicenter.

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Pope Francis’ Message for the 2019 World Day of the Sick

«You received without payment; give without payment» (Mt 10:8)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, “You received without payment; give without payment” (Mt 10:8). These are the words spoken by Jesus when sending forth his apostles to spread the Gospel, so that his Kingdom might grow through acts of gratuitous love.

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Our right to speak for climate justice

A few years ago, Pope Francis challenged those responsible for the well-being of the poor. He established the World Day of the Poor. It is a day that should be stretched into a week, a month or into a year of action challenging and protesting against the root causes of poverty, the most perverse of which are political and corporate corruption that plagues societies. Continue reading

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Tokyo archbishop: It is ‘difficult to find success’ on evangelization in Japan

Tokyo, Japan, Nov 4, 2019 / 05:05 pm (CNA).- Efforts by the Catholic Church to evangelize the Japanese population have frequently collided with roadblocks, according to Archbishop of Tokyo Isao Kikuchi, but the Church is still finding some ways to proclaim the Gospel. The archbishop answered the question from Catholic News Agency on Japan, evangelization, and why breaking through into mainstream Japanese society is so difficult for a religion that has survived persecution and genocide in the country since 1549. Continue reading

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Online Japanese Catholics are looking for a digital shepherd

In the age of mass communication, the Catholic Church is finding previously unimagined opportunities for evangelization – namely, over the internet. However, for the small minority of believers in Japan, the internet is far less connective. Much like their diocese and parishes, which are hardly seen or experienced outside the walls of the Church or rectory, Catholicism has not yet found a way to thrive on the Japanese end of the internet. Continue reading

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Meeting with Bishop J. M. ABELLA

Dear Brothers, God wants us to break away from our ‘comfort zone’ and step out in faith to do what He thinks is best for us. Are we ready to take up this challenge? Continue reading

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