Kuala Lumpur archbishop meets delegates of Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organizations

The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Julian Leow Beng Kim, met in a positive dialogue with nine representatives of the Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organizations (Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia, MAPIM) on March 25.

The meeting, which took place at his residence in Bukit Nanas, was to meet and greet the members and to express thanks for their prayers and well wishes for the speedy recovery of Pope Francis, the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, in connection with his recent admission to Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

On February 14, the 88-year-old pontiff was admitted for double pneumonia. After 38 days in the hospital, Francis returned to the Vatican on March 23. However, his doctors advised him another two months of rest to allow his aging body to fully heal and recover.

MAPIM had earlier sent a letter expressing their prayers for the pope’s optimal health and to thank him for speaking up for the Palestinian people.

Archbishop Julian said, “We appreciate your prayers for Pope Francis. We need to pray more for peace, as violence is never the answer. We put politics aside and support life, focusing on what is common and what unites us.”

During the gathering, the archbishop presented his guests with copies of The Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, also known as the Abu Dhabi Declaration. This joint statement was signed by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in 2019.

In a spirit of interfaith solidarity, both parties acknowledged the importance of unity, especially in difficult times, reaffirming their commitment to mutual respect and cooperation.

The meeting served as a meaningful reminder of the power of prayer and shared values in fostering compassion across religious communities.

Ustaz Ahmad Awang, chairman of Persatuan Ulama Malaysia, remarked that the day’s meeting also aimed to demonstrate that the ongoing war in the Middle East is not driven by religious differences but due to political and other reasons.

Throughout the discussion, Archbishop Leow and the MAPIM representatives emphasized the necessity for all people of faith to collaborate in promoting peace and harmony in Malaysia and beyond.

They recognized that unity transcends religious and cultural differences and called for continuous dialogue and cooperation in tackling global and local challenges. This engagement reflects the shared responsibility of religious communities in building a world rooted in understanding, respect, and love for one another.

The meeting ended with a fervent hope for further collaboration between MAPIM and the Church to promote common values and to stand together on humanitarian matters.

Though it was founded in 2006 to be a consultative forum to handle the concerns and challenges of the ummah and mankind in general, MAPIM, a non-governmental organization, has been a registered entity since 2012.

Over the years, it has become a platform to express the concerns of the ummah, both nationally and internationally.

MAPIM devotes its resources to community and social development, hence promoting unity, justice, and peace. Molding cultural and Islamic lives, it also encourages knowledge development and education.