Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão urges Church to make families partners in mission

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão called on the Catholic Church to treat families as active partners in its mission rather than just recipients of pastoral care. Speaking during a Vatican meeting on October 8, 2026, the president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences urged a shift from a mission directed toward families to a mission carried out among families.

The meeting marks the 10th anniversary of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. Ferrão described the changing landscape for Asian families, noting that smaller households, new forms of cohabitation, interreligious marriages, and increased migration are reshaping domestic life. He also noted that many families face poverty, unemployment, and economic insecurity.

In parts of India and Asia, Ferrão reported that Christian families encounter growing religious polarization and hostility. He stated these pressures can make it difficult for families to express their faith publicly or pass it on to younger generations. Despite these challenges, he noted that families continue to demonstrate Christian life by caring for children, the elderly, the sick, and other vulnerable members.