Asian bishops’ former communication secretary dies

By Matters India Reporter

Manila: Divine World Father Franz Josef Eilers, former executive secretary of the social communication office of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), died on January 13 in Manila, capital of the Philippines. The German missionary to Asia was 89.

The death occurred at 2:40 pm local time (12:10 pm India), according to a press note from Salesian Father George Plathottam, the current executive secretary of the FABC Office of Social Communication.

Father Plathottam, the second Indian to hold the post, hailed Father Eilers as a great communication luminary, author and teacher.

Father Eilers was a former director of Catholic Media Council (Cameco) in Aachen, Germany, and a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication. He had contributed “richly to the communication ministry of the Church globally and in Asia in particular,” said Father Plathottam, who also heads the Radio Veritas.

Father Eilers had authored several books and scholarly articles, led the Radio Veritas Asia and served as the director for Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication, Father Plathottam added.