Korean bishops elect new president, approve guidelines on sexual violence

Korean bishops elect president, Church in Burundi supports over 80,000 refugees, Scotland Bishops’ Conference president steps back from duties, and more in this week’s Catholic world news roundup.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea has elected Bishop Augustine Kim Jong-su of Daejeon as its new president and approved guidelines on sexual violence in the Church in the country, CPBC, the South Korean Catholic broadcaster, reported Oct. 22.

Kim, 70, chaired the conference’s special committee on sexual violence in the Church, which drew up the guidelines. At their Oct. 19–21 plenary assembly in Seoul, the bishops also elected Bishop John Baptist Jung Shin-chul of Incheon as vice president and Archbishop Simon Ok Hyun-jin of Gwangju as secretary, each for a three-year term.

The bishops also approved a question-and-answer guide on artificial intelligence and a sign-language Order of Mass. They asked all dioceses to join a year of prayer for peace on the Korean Peninsula from Dec. 8 ahead of World Youth Day Seoul 2027. Asked about potential plans to introduce abortion pills in South Korea, Kim told reporters that people have “no right to lay a hand on life itself,” Yonhap reported.

Catholic Church in Burundi supports over 80,000 Congolese refugees

The Catholic Church in Burundi is working with humanitarian organizations to support more than 80,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the local ordinary of the Diocese of Bururi said.

The Catholic Church in Burundi is providing assistance to the refugees in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Children’s Fund, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported Oct. 23. “Until recently, my diocese was hosting more than 30,000 of them, but they have since been transferred to other parts of the country,” Bishop Salvator Niciteretse said in the report.

“We are seeking to heal the social fabric through meetings and initiatives aimed at forming consciences to respect life, human dignity, and the common good,” he said. “At the national level, we have organized gatherings attended by several thousand young people, who have been hosted by families.”

Scotland bishop steps back from ministry due to medical advice

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland announced that its president, Bishop John Keenan, would be “stepping back from his daily duties until further notice, following medical advice.”

“Bishop Keenan has been undergoing medical investigations and will require further tests and examinations over the coming weeks,” the conference said in an Oct. 22 statement. “During this time, Vicar General Monsignor Joe Burke will oversee the day-to-day running of the Diocese of Paisley. Bishop Keenan hopes to provide a further update once these investigations are concluded and is grateful for your prayers at this time.”

Maronite patriarch ends historic Greece visit with pilgrimage route launch

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai concluded the first visit to Greece by a Maronite patriarch, strengthening relations with the Orthodox Church and meeting the local Maronite community.

During visits to Mount Athos, Athens, Thessaloniki, and Corinth, Rai explored the shared Christian heritage of Greece and Lebanon, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Oct. 20. The visit led to plans for a pilgrimage route linking Corinth with Lebanonʼs Qadisha Valley (the holly valley), building on cooperation established in 2019. Comparing Mount Athos with Lebanonʼs historic monasteries, Rai lamented the neglect and emigration affecting the Qadisha Valley and called attention to the governmentʼs responsibility for preserving its heritage and supporting local communities.

Catholics in Egypt celebrate 100 years of World Mission Sunday

Marking the centenary of World Mission Sunday, Catholics of the Latin rite in Egypt gathered for Mass in Cairo under the theme “One in Christ, United in Mission.”

Monsignor Antoine Tawfik reminded the faithful that every Christian shares responsibility for spreading the Gospel through prayer, love, and service, ACI MENA reported Oct. 20. Drawing on the examples of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, he warned that neglecting this mission threatens the Churchʼs ability to pass on the faith to future generations.

Catholic child beaten with pipes by sectarian gang in Northern Ireland

A sectarian gang in Northern Ireland targeted a 13-year-old Catholic boy in a random attack, beating the child with metal pipes until he crawled under a car to escape, Irish News reported Oct. 23.

The attack took place in Derry following rising tensions among Protestants and Catholics over a planned unionist march through a Catholic neighborhood, which was eventually blocked by the U.K. government. The boy suffered injuries to his face and was rushed to the hospital, the report said, noting that the attack appeared to have been carried out by adult masked men. The boy did not sustain any life-threatening injuries.

Catholic schools in Syria invest in early childhood education

Around 115 kindergarten teachers from 18 Catholic schools in Syria participated in a new training initiative organized by the General Secretariat of Catholic Educational Institutions in cooperation with Shaghaf Academy and with support from LʼŒuvre dʼOrient.

The program focused on child psychology, classroom management, and effective communication, helping teachers better understand childrenʼs emotional and educational needs, ACI MENA reported Oct. 19. Church leaders emphasized that education is not simply about delivering information but also about building character, confidence, and values. They expressed hope that the initiative would strengthen Catholic education in Syria and eventually expand to other grade levels.