The Penang Catholic Diocese in Malaysia celebrated the creation of Bishop Sebastian Francis as a Cardinal by the Vatican with a Thanksgiving Eucharist on January 14.
The traditional threefold concept of the Catholic Church involving the clergy, religious, and the laity has served the faithful for a long time. But for a Malaysian bishop, the upcoming Synod of Bishops may be leading us in a new direction to build “a Church of disciples.”
An Asian bishop said that “triple dialogue,” which revolves around religions, cultures, and the poor, is the “lifeblood” of the Catholic Church in Malaysia.
“As long as we don’t get caught up in labels, and remember that the whole world is present, symbolically, and the whole world is listening, and the whole world is engaged in this process,” Bishop Sebastian Francis said.
A Malaysian bishop who is set to be elevated to the cardinalate next month said that his appointment is a vital decision for Pope Francis who wants to implant the Catholic faith in every culture, particularly in a diverse region such as Asia.
The chairman is entrusted with the task “to make the FABC OSC a vibrant and effective instrument for strengthening the episcopal ministry of the Church in Asia in the service of the Gospel” through social communications.
