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Asian Catholics in International Relations

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Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the destabilization of the international order
has become increasingly evident. Globalization appears to be stalling, and new
geopolitical and ideological divisions are emerging. Among these shifts, the
resurgence and transformation of Christian political ideologies—in both Russia and in
the United States—are playing a prominent role in challenging the post-World War II
liberal order. At the same time, one must note that key challengers to this international
order—such as China and Russia—are shaped by political theologies distinct from
Catholic traditions.

Historically, the Catholic Church had come to support the Westphalian and, later, the
United Nations’ systems of nation-states, and has actively reinforced the foundations
of modern nation-states and international law. Over recent decades, however, the
Catholic Church has also evolved into a truly global institution with highly
heterogeneous actors. Non-territorial in many ways, the Holy See is a sovereign
juridical actor that maintains bilateral diplomatic relations with nearly all countries
worldwide and holds permanent observer status at the United Nations as well as in
several other international organizations. Through the numerous institutions affiliated
with the Catholic Church, the Vatican mobilizes various channels to engage in
international diplomacy, peacebuilding efforts, and climate advocacy worldwide.
Unsurprisingly, the Catholic Church has also been studied as a transnational actor,
transcending sovereignties or claiming communities of normative action that
contributes to global governance.

In Asia, the Holy See has developed a wide range of initiatives to concretely support
nation-building processes and interreligious dialogues. Through apostolic journeys—
Pope Francis visited 13 Asian countries—the Vatican also contributes to discussions
on a broad spectrum of socio-political issues. In 2018, the Vatican and the People’s
Republic of China also signed a provisional agreement to clarify the process for
appointing Catholic bishops in China and to facilitate potential collaboration between
the two sovereign entities despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. And global
Catholic institutions headquartered in Rome, such as Caritas Internationalis and the
Jesuit Refugee Service, are actively engaged in addressing the challenges arising
from international migration in Asia.

As Catholics are present in nearly every country, it is important not to reduce the role
of Catholicism in international relations solely to the formal diplomatic actions of the
Holy See or to institutional collaborations. In various Asian contexts—such as South
Korea, Hong Kong, former South Vietnam, and Taiwan—practicing Catholics have
held high political office and played influential roles in shaping national and regional
policies. These local Catholic actors contribute to international affairs in ways that
reflect both their religious identity and their political responsibilities, highlighting the
multifaceted presence of Catholicism in Asian politics beyond Vatican diplomacy and
formal institutional engagement. At the same time, over the past fifteen years, the
number of Asian cardinals has significantly increased, with several occupying major
roles within the Vatican. During the 2025 conclave, some Asian cardinals were, for the
first time, perceived as strong contenders for the papacy. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV
is the second pope from the Americas—and the fourth in a row who is not Italian—
highlighting the rapid internationalization of the Holy See.

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Despite recent developments, the role of the Catholic Church in international
relations—particularly within the Asian context—remains underexplored. Most
research on the intersection of Catholicism and international relations has
concentrated on the Vatican, the West, and institutional frameworks. In Asia, where
Catholicism often constitutes a religious minority, many states place lower priority on
diplomatic relations with the Holy See. This has contributed to an apparent distance
between Catholicism and Asian international relations, reinforcing the relative lack of
academic attention. This workshop seeks to challenge this historical perception by
exploring the evolving dynamics of Asian Catholicism from various international
relations perspectives. To deepen our understanding of Catholicism in global affairs,
we invite contributions using Asia as a unit of analysis and a heuristic tool to examine
the intersection between international relations and the Catholic Church through a
workshop that is intentionally not Vatican-centric, not focused solely on the West, and
not limited to formal papal diplomacy.

As Asia becomes an increasingly critical region for both global geopolitics and the
future of the Catholic Church, this workshop will examine how Asian Catholics—both
laypeople and ordained ministers—are contributing to and shaping international
relations in Asia and beyond. We invite scholars in International Relations, Political
Theory, Political Philosophy, Sociology, Anthropology, Religious Studies, Theology,
and related fields to join the conversation by engaging with the following questions:

• How has the Holy See engaged with and contributed to international
relations in response to Asian realities?
• How have specific Asian figures influenced the Vatican’s international role?
• How have Asian political figures who identify as Catholic negotiated their
religious identity in relation to their office, national politics, and
international relations?
• How do the Vatican and Asian Catholics collaborate to support
transnational campaigns to stop harmful climate activities, death penalty,
and violation of universal human rights?
• What insights from Catholic social teaching and doctrine are invoked by
Catholic organizations and individuals to address contemporary crises in
Asia?
• How has the appointment of Asian cardinals transformed the ways in
which the Catholic Church and Asia engage with international relations?
• How did the Holy See adjust its relations with the Japanese Empire before,
during, and after World War II—and how did these shifts impact
international relations during those critical periods?
• How have the centuries-long relations between Filipino populations and
the Catholic Church contributed to international relations, and for instance,
in shaping U.S.–Vatican engagement?
• What is the global significance of Sino–Vatican relations for international
affairs?
• How has the trajectory of international affairs since the twentieth century
influenced the Catholic Church’s theological developments and her self-
positioning within the international order?

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PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

TIME
DATE PANEL SESSION
(Taiwan)
11 Nov. 20:00-
WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS
2025 20:15
(Tues)
20:15 – PANEL 1 – Asian National Consciousness & Catholic
22:00 Diplomacy
(3 papers)
12 Nov. 20:00 – PANEL 2 – Catholicism & the Sino-Japanese Questions
2025 22:00 during the Early 20th century
(Wed) (4 papers)
13 Nov.2025 14:00 PANEL 3 - Catholicism & the contemporary rise of China
(Thur) 15:45 (3 papers)
20:00 – PANEL 4 – Catholic Diplomacy on Asian Ground
15:00 (4 papers)
22:00 –
CONCLUDING REMARKS
22:15

For more information & registration, please visit:

[Link]

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TUESDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2025

OPENING REMARKS
11 Nov. at 20:00 Taipei Time
• Chia-yu LIANG, National Chengchi University, Taiwan
• Michel CHAMBON, National University of Singapore

PANEL 1 –Asian National Consciousness & Catholic Diplomacy

11 Nov. from 20:15 to 22:00 Taipei Time
Chair: Michel Chambon, National University of Singapore
Discussant: Chia-yu LIANG, National Chengchi University, Taiwan

• The Philippines, the US empire, and the Holy See in the Making of an
American Concordat in the Taft Mission of 1902 by Jethro A. E. A. CALACDAY.
• Vietnam’s Fractured Soul: Can the Catholic Church Be Its Unifier? by
Hoang-Chuong NGUYEN.
• Cardinal You and the Vatican’s Role in Peacebuilding for the 2027 Seoul
World Youth Day by Jieun HAN.

WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2025

PANEL 2 – Catholicism & the Sino-Japanese Questions during the Early 20th
century
From 20:00 to 22:00 Taipei Time
Chair: Thomas TU, National Chengchi University, Taiwan
Discussant: Saho MATSUMOTO, Nihon University, Japan

• Faith Bridging Cultures: John C. H. Wu’s Asian Catholic Perspective by

Emanuele ANGIOLA.
• The Struggle for Diplomatic Recognition with the Holy See: Japan and the
Chongqing Nationalist Government as Seen through Japanese Diplomatic
Documents by Hunglin YEH.
• From Shimonoseki to Nagasaki, and beyond: Japan’s Unexpected
Centrality in Vatican Diplomacy on the international stage by Olivier SIBRE.
• Chinese Catholic International Engagement During the Second-Sino
Japanese War by Stephanie WONG:

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THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2025

PANEL 3 – Catholicism & the contemporary rise of China

From 14:00 to 16:00 Taipei Time
Chair: Chia-yu LIANG, National Chengchi University, Taiwan,
Discussant: Carsten VALA, Loyola University Marymount, USA

• Safeguarding Peace in the Great Power Competition by Enrico BELTRAMINI.

• Asian Catholic Soft Power: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Non‑Territorial
Diplomacy in the Sino–Vatican Interface by Raymond PAAS.
• Assessing the 2018 Sino-Vatican Provisional Agreement and Its
Implications on International Relations by Chit Wai John MOK & CHAN Shun-
hing.

PANEL 4 – Catholic Diplomacy on Asian Ground

From 20:00 to 22:00 Taipei Time
Chair: Bubbles B. ASOR, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
Discussant: Alan Chong, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

• From Cathedral to Istiqlal: “The Silaturahmi Tunnel” as a Symbol of

Interfaith Diplomacy in Indonesia by Hendrikus Paulus KAUNANG.
• Care for Creation Across Borders and Faiths: Singaporean Catholic
Responses to the Climate Crisis by Claribel LOW.
• Salesians in Higher Education in Papua New Guinea: A Catholic IR
Perspective by George THADATHIL.
• The Catholic Church and Responding to Democratic Backsliding in the
Philippines: Transnational Ties and Local Politics by David BUCKLEY.

CONCLUDING REMARKS
Thursday, 13 Nov. at 22:00 Taipei Time
• Chia-yu LIANG, National Chengchi University, Taiwan
• Michel CHAMBON, National University of Singapore

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 ABSTRACTS & BIO NOTES

TUESDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2025

PANEL 1 –Asian National Consciousness & Catholic Diplomacy

11 Nov. from 20:15 to 22:00 Taipei Time
Chair: Michel Chambon, National University of Singapore
Discussant: Chia-yu LIANG, National Chengchi University, Taiwan

PAPERS :
A. Jethro A. E. A. CALACDAY:
The Philippines, the US empire, and the Holy See in the Making of an
American Concordat in the Taft Mission of 1902
This presentation argues that the Taft Mission to the Vatican in 1902 was the moment of direct
rapprochement of Rome and Washington that bound them in the common goal of establishing
US colonial empire in the Philippines. The main object of the mission was the expulsion of the
Spanish friars, a demand cloaked by the pretext of purchasing their haciendas. Despite
repeated denial, the Taft Mission was from first to last a diplomatic errand. The American
commission drafted a bilateral agreement in which the United States offered to the Holy See
the swift and orderly resolution of various questions in exchange for its assent to withdraw the
friars from the Philippines. The mission, therefore, was a negotiation towards a de facto US-
Vatican concordat. The mission failed because of the Vatican’s refusal to commit to the
withdrawal of the friars in writing. In the absence of a signed concordat, the Holy See formalised
its cooperation with the US by orienting its internal policies towards the new regime’s goals.

Jethro A. E. A. Calacday recently obtained his PhD in history at the University of

Cambridge. He is currently a fellow at the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with
Religion, University of Notre Dame, IN, USA, with concurrent affiliation at the Faculty of
History, University of Cambridge.

B. Hoang-Chuong NGUYEN:
Vietnam’s Fractured Soul: Can the Catholic Church Be Its Unifier?
This topic investigates the potential role of the Catholic Church in fostering national
reconciliation between the Vietnamese people and the political leadership of the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam. Drawing on historical, political, and theological perspectives, it seeks to
answer a timely question: What could the Catholic Church do to create a space for reconciliation
in a society still marked by deep ideological and historical divisions? This question raises three
goals: first, it aims to identify the central fault lines within Vietnamese society – ideological
polarization, the legacy of war and exile, political authoritarianism, and religious marginalization
– that continue to fragment national unity and impede dialogue. Second, it seeks to critically
analyze the concept of “national reconciliation” in the Vietnamese context, informed by both
domestic historical experience and comparative theoretical insights. Finally, the research
explores how the Catholic Church in Vietnam can act as “a third-party partner” in creating a
safe, dialogical space that neither threatens state authority nor ignores the voice of
marginalized communities. By emphasizing the Church’s mediating role rooted in its theological
mandate, social presence, and history of engagement in education, health, and civil society, it
argues that the Church can contribute meaningfully to a broader project of reconciliation
grounded in truth-telling, mutual respect, reestablish a right relationship, and the gradual

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 rebuilding of trust. This approach offers a vision of the Church not as a political actor but as a
catalyst for healing in a post-conflict society, navigating its complex modern identity.

Hoang-Chuong Nguyen was born in Vietnam. At the age of 11, together with his mother
and brother, they migrated to Richmond, Virginia to reunite with his father. He completed
a Bachelor Degree in philosophy at Divine Word College Seminary in Epworth, IA. He
graduated from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago with a Master of Art in Theology
and Master of Divinity for priesthood ordination. Currently, he is a pastor of the Holy Trinity
Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Taipei in Taiwan, and also a doctoral candidate in
the Fu Jen Catholic University of the Department of Religious Studies.

C. Jieun HAN:
Cardinal You and the Vatican’s Role in Peacebuilding for the 2027 Seoul
World Youth Day
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Korea for the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day from August 3 to
8. He’s expected to present a vision of peace and hope to the younger generation, while offering
reconciliation and healing to the divided Korean Peninsula. South Korean President Lee Jae-
Myung proposed to Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-Sik, Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the
Clergy, that the Vatican consider a papal visit to North Korea. The Korean Peninsula holds
significant geopolitical importance, as the two Koreas remain the only divided countries on
Earth. They are also located near Russia, which is at war with Ukraine, and China, which is at
odds with the West. Korea’s pursuit of peace, despite ongoing division, is expected to send a
powerful message emphasizing the value of dialogue and cooperation. This message will
resonate not only with North Korea, but with other regions entangled in geopolitical tensions
and conflict. Against this backdrop, the role of Korean Cardinal You, as a key mediator for the
Vatican, is more crucial than ever. This paper therefore seeks to explore the possibilities
Cardinal You can create to foster peace and hope on the Korean Peninsula in preparation for
World Youth Day, with a particular focus on the Vatican’s role in international diplomacy. It also
examines how his leadership can prove instrumental in promoting a peaceful future for the
Korean Peninsula and beyond.

Jieun Han is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for East Asian Studies at Sogang
University in Korea. Her research interests include the Korean Diaspora, Marianism,
missionaries, and the Korean War. Her recent publications are: “Evangelization and
Indigenous Communities in Korea, 7th Century to 16th Century,” in The Palgrave
Handbook of the Catholic Church in East Asia, (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025).; “Bishop
Patrick Byrne and the Korean Catholic Church in Cold War Korea,” Korea Journal, (Winter
2020).; and An Chunggŭn: His Life and Thought in His Own Words, with Franklin Rausch,
(Brill, 2020).

Discussant: Chia-Yu Liang is an assistant professor in Asia-Pacific studies at the

National Chengchi University (Taiwan). He obtained his doctorate in International
Relations at the University of Sussex (UK), with his doctoral thesis examining the
discursive revival of tianxia (All-under-Heaven) in modern China. His research
interests include Comparative Political Theology, Non-Western International Relations
Theories, and Global Intellectual History. He has published book chapters on Sino-
Christian Theology and journal articles on the Sino-Taiwan conflicts and Chinese
nationalism from the perspective of political theology.

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WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2025

PANEL 2 – Catholicism & the Sino-Japanese Questions during the Early 20th
century
From 20:00 to 22:00 Taipei Time
Chair: Thomas TU, National Chengchi University, Taiwan
Discussant: Saho MATSUMOTO, Nihon University, Japan

Papers:
A. Emanuele ANGIOLA:
Faith Bridging Cultures: John C. H. Wu’s Asian Catholic Perspective
John C. H. Wu (吳經熊 1899–1986), a Chinese intellectual, convert to Catholicism, and former
ambassador to the Holy See, exemplifies the role of Asian Catholics in fostering understanding
between diverse cultures and contributing to international relations beyond formal diplomacy.
Deeply rooted in Chinese philosophical traditions and profoundly transformed by his encounter
with Catholic faith, Wu cultivated a vision of dialogue that transcended political boundaries. His
personal and intellectual journey offers valuable insights into how religious identity can inform
and inspire cross-cultural engagement in the global arena.
This paper situates Wu within the broader discussion of Asian Catholicism’s contribution to
international relations, as framed by the interplay of faith and multiple cultural identities.
Through an analysis of Wu’s autobiographical reflections and comparative writings, the study
explores how he interpreted Eastern traditions through the lens of Catholic spirituality, and how
he articulated Christian principles in ways that resonated with non-Western sensibilities. Wu’s
approach reveals a model of intercultural encounter grounded not in the erasure of difference,
but in its respectful integration.
By presenting Wu as a case study, this paper argues that Asian Catholic voices—especially
those shaped by lived experience across cultural frontiers—can play a transformative role in
building bridges of peace, understanding, and cooperation. In an era marked by geopolitical
tensions and ideological divisions, Wu’s example illustrates the enduring potential of faith-
informed cultural dialogue as a catalyst for a more inclusive and harmonious international order.

Emanuele Angiola (安吉恩) is an Italian missionary priest of the Fraternity of St. Charles
Borromeo (FSCB), based in Taiwan since 2011. He earned his Ph.D. in Religious Studies
from Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, under the supervision of Fr. Paulin Batairwa
Kubuya, exploring the thought of John C. H. Wu and the dialogue between Christian faith
and cultures. He also holds degrees in Philosophy and Sacred Theology from the Pontifical
Lateran University and a Master’s in Vocal Performance. Ordained in 2012, he served as
a parish priest in New Taipei City and taught at the Taiwan Catholic Regional Seminary.
He currently teaches at Fu Jen Catholic University and the Fu Jen Faculty of Theology of
St. Robert Bellarmine.

B. Hunglin YEH:
The Struggle for Diplomatic Recognition with the Holy See: Japan and the
Chongqing Nationalist Government as Seen through Japanese
Diplomatic Documents
During the Second World War, the Holy See uniquely maintained diplomatic relations with both
the Nationalist Government of the Republic of China in Chongqing and imperial Japan, two
adversaries locked in prolonged conflict. The rationale for this anomalous arrangement has

9
 received little attention in Taiwanese scholarship. This study examines primary sources—
including the archives of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japanese Diplomatic
Documents, and the Republic of China’s foreign affairs records preserved at the Academia
Historica—to analyze the motives driving both Japan and Chongqing in cultivating ties with the
Vatican.
For Japan, diplomacy with the Holy See served two principal purposes: stabilizing Catholic
communities in its occupied territories in Southeast Asia, and protecting the interests of
Japanese nationals residing in Catholic-majority countries of Latin America. Although Tokyo
opposed the Vatican’s recognition of the Chongqing government, the Holy See, guided by its
principles of neutrality and diplomatic equivalence, argued that once it had recognized Japan,
it could not deny Chongqing’s request for formal relations. Japan, seeking to prevent this
outcome, enlisted Italy’s support to impose technical delays on the appointment of Chongqing’s
envoy, thereby attempting to preserve the appearance of exclusive Vatican–Japanese relations.
These measures ultimately proved temporary. In January 1943, Xie Shoukang assumed office
in the Vatican as the Republic of China’s first ambassador to the Holy See, marking the official
establishment of diplomatic ties between Chongqing and the Vatican.

Hung-lin Yeh is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at China University of Science and

Technology and a researcher specializing in international relations, with a focus on East
Asian geopolitics, China’s foreign policy, and Japan-China interactions. Holding a Ph.D. in
Political Science from National Taiwan University, his work explores regional integration,
security dynamics, and historical perspectives, published in journals like Issues & Studies
and books such as Local Autonomy and Local Regeneration. Yeh serves as Deputy
Executive Director at Taipei City Education Foundation, Secretary-General of Taiwan-US-
Japan Civil Exchange Association, and Alternate Supervisor at TAIUNA, contributing to
policy and academic discourse.

C. Olivier SIBRE:
From Shimonoseki to Nagasaki, and beyond: Japan’s Unexpected
Centrality in Vatican Diplomacy on the international stage
Since the beginning of the Meiji era, the Catholic minority in Japan has remained the most
marginal in Asia. Nevertheless, from the pontificate of Leo XIII onward, Japan acquired a
disproportionately prominent place in the diplomacy of the Holy See. Rome, convinced of the
imminent conversion of modern Japan—much as General Douglas MacArthur was in 1945—
saw the country as a potential gateway for Catholic influence across Asia. A handful of
Japanese lay and clerical figures played a meaningful role in shaping the Vatican’s stance
toward Japan and, indirectly, its response to the regional and international reconfigurations in
which imperial Japan participated, from the Treaty of Shimonoseki to the capitulation in 1945.
The export of Japan’s politico-religious order also extended the influence of the Japanese
Catholic clergy into occupied territories. After the war, Hiroshima—and above all Nagasaki,
where the country’s largest parish, Urakami, was annihilated by the atomic bomb—became
central to Vatican reflection. Other postwar issues, including prisoners of war, the repatriation
of Japanese citizens, and the trials of war criminals in Tokyo, likewise left a lasting mark on
papal diplomacy and on the reconstruction of the Catholic Church in Japan.
In the following decades, this legacy continued to shape both relations between the Holy See
and Japan and the Vatican’s broader international positions, particularly on nuclear deterrence
and humanitarian action, while also influencing internal conciliar debates. Throughout this
period, Japanese Catholic elites intersected with their Chinese counterparts, situating Japan
within wider Catholic strategies in East Asia.

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 Olivier Sibre, agrégé in history, has been Director of Studies and Research at the Institut
Georges Pompidou since 2018. He is the author of The Holy See and the Far East (China,
Korea, Japan) from Leo XIII to Pius XII (École Française de Rome, 2012). His research
focuses on international relations, religion, politics, war, peace, and reconstruction, with
particular emphasis on the global activities and diplomacy of the Holy See, especially in
the Asia-Pacific. He also works on postwar French and European history. He is affiliated
with the SIRICE laboratory and member of ANR GLOBALVAT

D. Stephanie WONG:
Chinese Catholic International Engagement During the Second-Sino
Japanese War
This paper offers a historical survey of Chinese Catholic international engagement during the
Second Sino-Japanese War, noting the ways that Chinese Catholic politicians and clergy
sought to both rally a wider global sympathy for the Republic of China and respond to Japanese
Catholic interpretations of the conflict. To begin with, it surveys political overtures which Chinese
Catholics issued beyond the Church to the international community, such as appeals to third-
party countries and to the League of Nations. At the same time, it highlights some intra-ecclesial
volleys which Chinese Catholics exchanged with the Catholics in Japan, as Catholics from both
countries debated the war in light of Church teachings on just war and peace.

Stephanie M. Wong (Asst. Prof of Theology and Religious Studies, Villanova University) is
a scholar of Chinese religions, especially Chinese Catholicism. She teaches courses in
the comparative study of Christian, Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist thought and practices,
and researches the theological development and interreligious relations of these
communities especially during the dramatic political and social developments of the 20th
century. She has a forthcoming book about the pro-indigenization efforts of Vincent Lebbe
and a coalition of Chinese Catholic leaders in politics, media, and education in the early
Republic, called 'Making Catholicism Chinese: The Catholic Church in Modernizing China'
forthcoming with Oxford U Press, January 2026.

Discussant: Saho MATSUMOTO is professor at the college of International Relations,

Nihon University, Japan. She obtained her PhD from the University of Warwick, UK,
and her PhD thesis was published as Britain and the Papacy in the Age of Revolutions,
in 2003 by the Royal Historical Society. Since then, shehas written extensively on the
history and current affairs of Vatican diplomacy and Catholicism worldwide. She was
one of contributors to the edited volume The Vatican and Permanent Neutrality, (2024),
and is currently undertaking research in the Vatican’s newly opened historical
documents, Archivio Vaticano Apostolico, on the Vatican and Japan in the modern era,
including Japan’s former colonies.

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THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2025

PANEL 3 – Catholicism & the contemporary rise of China

From 14:00 to 16:00 Taipei Time
Chair: Chia-yu LIANG, National Chengchi University, Taiwan,
Discussant: Carsten VALA, Loyola University Marymount, USA

Papers:
A. Enrico BELTRAMINI:
Safeguarding Peace in the Great Power Competition
In this paper, I observe that for many Catholics, the way they understand global affairs is also
shifting: where once globalization and cooperation seemed to dominate, today the realities of
great-power competition are impossible to ignore. This changing landscape—where economic
interdependence gives way to rivalries among powerful nations—raises pressing questions for
believers. What does it mean for Christians to safeguard peace in a world where rising powers,
such as China, increasingly challenge—even militarily—the dominance of the United States?
I suggest that individual Catholics can only accept China’s rise as a global power if it unfolds
through peaceful and non-violent means. While Christian faith rejects the use of force, believers
may still recognize China’s aspirations to claim its place as a rising Asian power, provided these
ambitions are pursued through dialogue, cooperation, and respect for international norms.

Enrico Beltramini, PhD, specializes in Catholicism in South Asia and the international
relations (IR) of the Catholic Church in the Indo-Pacific region. His most recent article on
IR is “The Church of the Periphery and the Catholic Pivot to the Indo-Pacific,” Journal of
Indo-Pacific Affairs, Vol. 7, no. 3 (2024), 124-138. Beltramini is the author of more than 70
academic articles and 5 monographs. He serves as professor of theology (retired) at Notre
Dame de Namur University, California.

B. Raymond PAAS:
Asian Catholic Soft Power: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and
Non‑Territorial Diplomacy in the Sino–Vatican Interface.
This paper offers a human-centered case study of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to illuminate how
Asian Catholic actors shape international relations not through embassies or fleets but through
institutions, relationships, and practices that cross borders. As a cardinal-bishop and senior
leader in the Dicastery for Evangelization’s Section for the First Evangelization and New
Particular Churches—holding the suburbicarian title of Albano since May 2025—Tagle
embodies the Holy See’s non-territorial yet consequential presence in the Indo-Pacific. The
argument is that a dialogue-first ecclesiology can generate soft-power effects in a region
defined by strategic rivalry, climate risk, and migration: decisions about governance of new
particular churches, leadership formation, and mission priorities ripple outward into classrooms,
relief corridors, and neighborhood councils. Empirically, the paper traces how missionary
governance, catechetical and university networks, and Caritas-linked humanitarian initiatives
collaborate with states and civil society on migration support, disaster response, and
interreligious dialogue—opening channels of cooperation that states often struggle to build on
their own. While the study does not claim Tagle has mediated particular South China Sea
incidents, it shows how his role and public stance—especially regarding Sino–Vatican
engagement on episcopal appointments—helps shape the background conditions in which
regional diplomacy unfolds. By foregrounding an Asian cardinal’s curial leadership and the
practice-based networks it enables, the paper reframes Catholic influence as relational,
infrastructural, and locally embedded. It concludes that such non-territorial power can stabilize

12
 expectations, widen agendas for cooperation, and lower the temperature of conflict—without
adjudicating sovereignty or altering hard-power balances.

Raymond Paas, MgrMS - Master’s in International Relations and Student at Adam

Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland - was born and educated in Catholic schools in the
Philippines and hold a Bachelor’s degree from the University of the City of Manila. After a
decade in the United States, I completed a Master’s in Mediterranean Studies and am
currently pursuing a Master’s in International Relations at Adam Mickiewicz University,
Poland. I plan to pursue doctoral studies on transnational Jesuit networks and Asian
Catholicism. I have presented on paradiplomacy and Jesuit–Protestant conflicts at
conferences in Poland and Germany. My work supports scholarship through indexing and
copy-editing publications on Catholic history and Jesuit studies.

C. Chit Wai John MOK & CHAN Shun-hing

Assessing the 2018 Sino-Vatican Provisional Agreement and Its
Implications on International Relations
In 2018, the Holy See, under the Pope Francis, reached a historical Provisional Agreement on
Bishop Appointments with Beijing. The Agreement has been renewed thrice and remains in
force. This paper addresses three research questions: 1. How has the Agreement transformed
relations between China and the Holy See? 2. Is the Agreement a successful initiative when
evaluated through the lens of Catholic individuals and communities in China? 3. How do the
conditions faced by Catholics in China reflect Sino-Vatican dynamics? This paper argues, first,
that the Agreement marks a significant shift in the Holy See’s institutional logic in handling
relations with China - moving from cautious negotiation to active appeasement. Second,
evaluating the conditions of Catholic individuals and communities over the past seven years
suggests that the Agreement has not been a successful initiative. Instead of promoting
reconciliation between the open and underground communities, the Agreement has created
confusion on the ground, exacerbating power struggles in certain dioceses and undermining
the Pope’s authority. Moreover, it has fallen short of ensuring religious freedom for Catholics in
China and has provided local authorities with moral grounds to suppress non-conformist
Catholics. Third, the Agreement has undermined the moral legitimacy of Chinese Catholics who
previously remained loyal to the Pope and resisted the government. This has not only granted
moral authority to Beijing, enhancing its regional and global standing, but also raised questions
about the Holy See’s reputation as a global defender of human rights.

Chit Wai John MOK is a Research Assistant Professor (sociology) in the Department of
Applied Social Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research focuses
on the sociology of culture, religion, and institutions. One of his ongoing projects
investigates how Roman Catholic practitioners in contemporary China navigate ethical
evaluations in an authoritarian context, using an analytical framework grounded in the
institutional logics perspective. He has published articles in The China Quarterly, The
China Journal, and Social Compass.

Discussant: Carsten VALA is Professor of Political Science at Loyola University

Maryland. He is on leave during 2025-2027 to serve as director of KU Leuven’s Loyola
International Nachbahr Huis. He has studied the development of Chinese Protestants
for two decades and published a book, articles, and other work on the interaction
between this religious community and the contemporary Party-state.

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PANEL 4 – Catholic Diplomacy on Asian Ground
From 20:00 to 22:00 Taipei Time
Chair: Bubbles B. ASOR, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
Discussant: Alan Chong, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Papers:

A. Hendrikus Paulus KAUNANG:

From Cathedral to Istiqlal: “The Silaturahmi Tunnel” as a Symbol of
Interfaith Diplomacy in Indonesia
“The Silaturahmi Tunnel” is a passage constructed to connect Jakarta’s Cathedral and the
Istiqlal Mosque. Its construction represents a symbol of interfaith collaboration in Indonesia,
aiming to strengthen social cohesion among religious communities. During his visit to Indonesia
(3–6 September 2024), Pope Francis took the opportunity to visit the tunnel. On that occasion,
the Pope remarked that the tunnel was not merely a physical structure but a symbol of solidarity,
where dialogue and collaboration among different faiths could flourish. Indonesia is a plural
society with a Muslim majority population (87%). Currently, six religions are officially served by
the state (Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and Protestantism),
alongside the formal acknowledgment of indigenous belief systems known as the Believers of
the One and Only God (Penghayat Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan Yang Maha Esa). Within this
context, in my opinion, religious organizations as non-state actors in international relations play
a significant role in peacebuilding efforts within society. Through this study, using the
Silaturahmi Tunnel as a case study, I aim to analyze how the Catholic Church employs soft
power (manifested in its social teachings, service, and collaboration) to reinforce social
cohesion and promote peace among religious groups, particularly in Indonesia. The Catholic
Church has long been recognized as an active actor influencing global dynamics, not through
hard power, but through soft power embodied in the Church’s social doctrine. The Silaturahmi
Tunnel thus serves as a concrete representation of Catholic diplomacy, standing not merely as
a construction but as a symbol of collaboration and peace.

Hendrikus Paulus Kaunang, M.A. (Ph.D. cand.) is a researcher affiliated with the
Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) and the Centre for Security and
Peace Studies (CSPS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He is
also a member of Initiative for the Study of Asian Catholic (ISAC), Singapore. He
specializes in peace and conflict study, democracy, tourism, digital media and inter-
religious studies. He actively participates in academic collaborations and publish some
articles in a reputable journal. His recent work emphasizes the importance of digital
inclusion for the indigenous religion community and also the significance of inclusive
governance in thepolitics of tourism development in Indonesia.

B. Claribel LOW
Care for Creation Across Borders and Faiths: Singaporean Catholic
Responses to the Climate Crisis
Anchored upon Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ (2015), the Care for Creation (C4C)
movement has gained traction in the past decade as the global climate crisis intensifies and
more become keenly aware of the urgency for action.
In Singapore, the Archdiocese has stepped up efforts by appointing Caritas Singapore to lead
the movement. Since then, September 1 to October 4 has been designated the Season of
Creation and a C4C framework has been formally developed by Caritas Singapore to galvanise
engagement across the entire Catholic community. These efforts must be seen as a dialogical
exchange between the Vatican and the Singapore Archdiocese; in other words, the C4C
movement in Singapore evolves in response to the direction and emphasis accorded by the

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 Vatican whilst the Vatican renders its support to bolster the local movement. Furthermore, given
the global nature of the crisis climate, C4C is necessarily transnational.
Importantly, it must be noted that these efforts have taken on an interreligious dimension as
well. The inaugural Interreligious Earth Day Dialogue 2025, for example, gathered
representatives from the major faiths to discuss their respective traditions’ views on
environmental stewardship and sustainable living amongst others. This makes the C4C
movement an avenue through which the Singaporean Catholic community can engage other
faiths in dialogue.
With these in mind, this paper seeks to examine Singaporean Catholics’ views on the
burgeoning C4C movement and what they understand their role(s) to be, with an especial focus
on the transnational and interreligious aspects of the movement.

Claribel Low is an Associate Research Fellow with the Social Cohesion Research
Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) of Nanyang
Technological University. She holds a Master of Science in Asian Studies from RSIS where
she specialised in the comparative study of religion and interreligious relations in plural
societies. Prior to that, she graduated from the National University of Singapore with a
Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Sociology and English Language. Her research
interests include critical religion, interreligious relations, religious nationalism, religion-
state relations, secularism and the sociology of knowledge.

C. George THADATHIL
Salesians in Higher Education in Papua New Guinea: A Catholic IR
Perspective
This paper focuses on the contributions of individual Salesians from the Philippines and India
who have worked in Papua New Guinea for the past three decades. It will consider how the
Salesians' education and social programs in PNG have contributed to building social stability
and community development. These align with the regional goals of peace and cooperation
within the Island Nations of the Pacific. Their work with vulnerable populations and refugees
supports social cohesion, contributing to the overall stability that PNG seeks to uphold in its
regional relationships. The presentation will highlight the story of two institutions of Higher
Education owned by the Salesians and in demand in the fields of technical and university-level
education. The engagement of the Salesians from the Philippines and India, with their strong
presence in Asian Catholic communities, and their backgrounds, has contributed to the Catholic
life and vision in the Island nation, which is the premise of this presentation. The paper aligns
with the vision of the conference to highlight ‘untold stories of international collaboration and
the involvement of Asian Catholics’. The existing literature on the IR often overlooks these
individual stories and the engagement of the Church in the education and social sectors, even
though these mark a milestone in people’s development and deserve due attention. Therefore,
this paper will look closely at two institutions - Don Bosco Technological Institute (DBTI), East
Boroko, and Don Bosco Simbu Technical College (DBSTC), in Papua New Guinea and their
protagonists as agents of Catholic International Relations.

Prof George Thadathil, sdb, taught Philosophy at Salesian College, did research at Madras
University and has published Nepali Language, Culture and Identity (2004), Democracy in
Darjeeling (2023) and Christian Education and Democracy in India (2024). He was part of
the Backwaters Collective on Metaphysics and Politics (Cochin Biennale) and a contributor
to India and Civilizational Futures (2019), The INDIANS: Histories of a Civilization (2023)
and founder editor of the Salesian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. He was
awarded the Silver Plaque for Leadership in Higher Education by the International
Association of Facilitators in 2019. He lives in Rome.

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 D. David BUCKLEY:
The Catholic Church and Responding to Democratic Backsliding in the
Philippines: Transnational Ties and Local Politics
How, and to what effect, have Asian Catholics campaigned against recent “democratic
backsliding” on the continent? The Catholic Church was a central actor in late-twentieth century
democratization in much of Asia, perhaps most prominently in the Philippines. However, since
the turn of the century, democracy has come under strain across the continent. Moreover, the
effectiveness of Catholic interventions to strengthen democracy has been called into question,
both by the Church and its political critics. This paper documents and probes the effect of efforts
by Filipino Catholics to respond to recent democratic backsliding in the country, both during the
violent presidency of Rodrigo Duterte and the subsequent return of the Marcos family to
executive power. Local Catholic leaders, including clergy, religious and laity, have, at times,
intervened to strengthen democratic institutions. These interventions have drawn support from
prominent clerical appointments in the Vatican and regional bishops’ conferences. However,
reflecting Pope Francis’ emphasis on moving the Church “to the margins,” such transnational
ties have greatest effect when rooted in local communities whose rights are under threat as
democracy weakens. The paper draws on extensive field interviews, an original survey of parish
priests, and documentation of parish-based interventions to promote democracy and rights.

David Buckley is Associate Professor of Political Science, and Paul Weber Endowed Chair
in Politics, Science & Religion at the University of Louisville, where he serves as the
Director of the Center for Asian Democracy. His research focuses on the comparative
relationship between religion and democracy. His book, Protection at the Margins: The
Catholic Church and Populist Violence in the Philippine Drug war (co-authored with Steven
Brooke) is forthcoming from Cambridge University Press. He previously served as a
Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow (2016-17) in the Department of
State’s Office of Religion in Global Affairs.

Discussant: Alan Chong is Senior Fellow at the Centre for Multilateralism Studies
within the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore. He has
published widely on the notion of soft power and the role of ideas in constructing the
international relations of Singapore and Asia. This has stemmed from his doctoral work
on soft power in the early 2000s. These ideational angles have also led to inquiry into
some aspects of ‘non-traditional security’ issues in Asia. His publications have
appeared in The Pacific Review; South East Asia Research; Global Studies Quarterly;
Geopolitics, and the Review of International Studies.

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