Vatican City: Malaysia’s Cardinal Sebastian Francis has said the diversity of Asia should be seen as a strength rather than a threat, as bishops from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei continue their visit to Rome for meetings with Pope Leo XIV and Vatican officials.
Speaking to Vatican News during the bishops’ ad limina apostolorum visit, Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Archbishop of Penang, described the Catholic Church in the region as “vibrant” and growing, especially through the increasing number of adults seeking Baptism.
The ad limina visit, held every few years, brings bishops from around the world to Rome to meet the Pope and leaders of Vatican departments. Cardinal Francis said the current visit has been deeply meaningful and spiritually enriching for the bishops of the three Southeast Asian nations.
“It is very well organised and very systematic,” the Cardinal said, adding that the visit is “not a holiday” but an important moment of responsibility, reflection and unity.
He explained that the meetings with Vatican Dicasteries have been more focused and intense than expected, with discussions centred on the mission of the Church and the realities facing local Catholic communities.
Cardinal Francis also highlighted the strong sense of solidarity among the bishops during the visit. He said the gathering has strengthened their bond with one another and deepened their communion with the Universal Church under Pope Leo XIV.
“I feel a wonderful feeling of solidarity,” he said. “I cannot explain it, but I feel it.”
Reflecting on the Church in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, the Cardinal described the region as peaceful and spiritually active. While Singapore and Brunei are highly developed countries and Malaysia continues to grow economically, he said the Church remains alive in all three nations.
“We have many people enquiring about the Catholic faith as adults,” he said. “Many of them are requesting Baptism as adults. That keeps us on our toes.”
The Cardinal acknowledged that the Church in the region lives within societies that are multicultural, multilingual and multi religious. However, he encouraged Catholics not to look at these realities negatively.
“Enough of thinking of them as challenges,” he said. “Maybe we should think of them as assets.”
According to Cardinal Francis, diversity and unity can exist together and should be embraced with equality and mutual respect. He linked this vision to the Christian understanding of the Trinity, saying unity in diversity reflects both God and humanity.
“With the right orientation we can face the challenges together,” he said.
The Cardinal also spoke about the wider situation of Christians in Asia, where some communities continue to face restrictions and persecution. Even so, he warned Catholics against developing what he called a “minority complex” or a “persecution complex.”
While recognising that genuine difficulties exist in some places, he stressed that Christians must continue their mission with courage and hope.
“We will continue to tell the story of Jesus in Asia,” Cardinal Francis said.
The remarks come at a time when the Catholic Church in Asia is experiencing growth in several countries, especially through youth participation and adult conversions, even as Christians remain minorities in many parts of the continent.