CBCMSB focuses on Synod and Rome visit
Richard Chia: The 116th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (CBCMSB) opened with a virtual address by Msgr Marcel Šmejkal, the new Counsellor to the Apostolic Nunciature in Malaysia and Timor-Leste. Speaking from Dili, he conveyed greetings on behalf of Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski and was warmly welcomed by the bishops.
Cardinals William Goh and Sebastian Francis reflected on their participation in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. Cardinal William called the election 'a miracle,' while Cardinal Sebastian highlighted the unity shown by the 133 cardinals in reaching a decision within 48 hours.
Archbishop Julian Leow, President of CBCMSB, then read a letter from the Apostolic Nunciature announcing the Ad Limina visit to Rome, scheduled for May 18–23, 2026. The visit will mark the first such pilgrimage since 2018, when the bishops met with Pope Francis.
A major focus of the plenary was the implementation phase of the Synod of Bishops' Final Document, released in November 2024. The General Secretary of the Secretariat of the Synod, Cardinal Mario Grech, launched the Accompaniment Process in March 2025, outlining a three-year plan beginning with a Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies from Oct 24–26, 2025.
CBCMSB will be represented at this Jubilee in Rome by Msgr Jude Miranda (Diocese of Penang), Sr Margarete Sta Maria, and Gregory Pravin (both from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur). Their participation includes plenary sessions, pilgrimage activities, a passage through the Holy Door, an audience with Pope Leo XIV, and a concluding Mass at St Peter's Basilica.
To support the ongoing Synodal journey, the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) has established a Commission for Synodality led by Cardinal Pablo David, FABC Vice-President. Archbishop Julian will represent CBCMSB in this commission, supported by individual diocesan representatives from the region. The FABC will also host a Bishops' Seminar on Synodality from Sept 22–26, 2025 in Bangkok.
Looking ahead, the bishops noted the upcoming FABC XII Plenary Assembly, scheduled for June 22–28, 2026 in Bali, Indonesia. This major gathering, last held in 2017 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, will see participation from cardinals, episcopal conference presidents, and bishop delegates across Asia. Originally intended as a quadrennial event, the assembly was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the session, the CBCMSB agreed to renew the terms of its current office bearers and episcopal commission presidents for another two years. Each bishop also provided updates on their respective commissions, past initiatives, and upcoming plans.
The plenary concluded with a pastoral visit to St Pio's Spirituality Centre in Ulu Tiram, where Fr Joe Matthews OFM Cap and Fr John Anandan OFM Cap welcomed the bishops with afternoon tea and a guided tour of the facilities
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Herald Malaysia
21 hours ago
- Herald Malaysia
Here are 50 notable remarks by Pope Leo XIV during his first 100 days
Pope Leo XIV has made numerous memorable remarks during the first 100 days of his pontificate (May 8 to Aug. 16). Below are some of the most notable. Aug 17, 2025 Pope Leo XIV smiles during his Wednesday general audience on Aug. 13, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media By Almudena Martínez-BordiúPope Leo XIV has made numerous memorable remarks during the first 100 days of his pontificate (May 8 to Aug. 16). Below are some of the most notable. The peace that comes from Christ 1. 'It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally' (First greeting after being elected). 2. 'In a divided and troubled world, the Holy Spirit teaches us to walk together in unity' (Vigil of Pentecost). 3. 'Today more than ever, humanity cries out and calls for peace. This is a cry that requires responsibility and reason, and it must not be drowned out by the din of weapons or the rhetoric that incites conflict' (Angelus on the solemnity of Corpus Christi). The evangelizing mission 4. 'These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family, and so many other wounds that afflict our society' (Homily at Mass with cardinals). 5. 'Take courage! Without fear! Many times in the Gospel Jesus says: 'Do not be afraid.' We need to be courageous in the witness we give, with the world and above all with life: giving life, serving, sometimes with great sacrifices in order to live out this very mission' (Homily in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica). 6. 'Evangelization, dear brothers and sisters, is not our attempt to conquer the world but the infinite grace that radiates from lives transformed by the kingdom of God' (Vigil of Pentecost). 7. 'This dimension of our Christian life and mission is close to my heart and is reflected in the words of St. Augustine that I chose for my episcopal service and now for my papal ministry: 'In Illo uno unum.' Christ is our savior and in him we are one, a family of God, beyond the rich variety of our languages, cultures, and experiences' (Address to the Pontifical Mission Societies).God's merciful love8. 'God loves us, God loves all, and evil will not prevail. We are all in God's hands. Therefore, without fear, united, holding hands with God and with each other, let us move forward' (First greeting after being elected). 9. 'For if we remain in his love, he comes to dwell in us and our life will become a temple of God. His love enlightens us, influences the way we think and act, spreads outwards to others and embraces every situation in our lives' (Regina Caeli, May 25). 10. 'God's joy is not loud, but it truly changes history and brings us closer to one another' (Mass for priestly ordinations). 11. 'The risen Jesus shows us his wounds and, although they are a sign of humanity's rejection, he forgives us and sends us on our way' (Mass for priestly ordinations). 12. 'The Father does not love us any less than he loves his only-begotten Son. In other words, with an infinite love. God does not love less, because he loves first, from the very beginning!' (Mass for the Jubilee of Families). 13. 'To believe in him and to be his disciples means allowing ourselves to be changed and to take on his same feelings. It means learning to have a heart that is moved, eyes that see and do not look away, hands that help others and soothe their wounds, shoulders that bear the burden of those in need' (Mass at Castel Gandolfo). 14. 'Brothers and sisters, today we need this 'revolution of love'' (Mass at Castel Gandolfo). 15. 'God's love is so great that Jesus does not keep even his mother for himself, giving Mary to us as our mother, in the hour of the cross' (Homily at Castel Gandolfo with the Italian Carabinieri). 16. 'If we deny the love that has generated us, if by betraying we become unfaithful to ourselves, then we truly lose the meaning of our coming into the world, and we exclude ourselves from salvation. And yet, precisely there, at the darkest point, the light is not extinguished. On the contrary, it starts to shine. Because if we recognize our limit, if we let ourselves be touched by the pain of Christ, then we can finally be born again' (Catechesis on betrayal). 17. 'Faith does not spare us from the possibility of sin, but it always offers us a way out of it: that of mercy' (Catechesis on betrayal). 18. 'Jesus is not scandalized by our fragility. He knows well that no friendship is immune from the risk of betrayal. But Jesus continues to trust. He continues to sit at the table with his followers. He does not give up breaking bread, even for those who will betray him. This is the silent power of God: He never abandons the table of love, even when he knows he will be left alone' (Catechesis on betrayal). The family 19. 'One of the most wonderful expressions of the love of God is the love that is poured out by mothers, especially to their children and grandchildren' (Homily in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica). 20. 'And you, dear children, show gratitude to your parents: Saying 'thank you' each day for the gift of life and for all that comes with it is the first way to honor your father and your mother' (Mass for the Jubilee of Families). 21. 'In the family, faith is handed on together with life, generation after generation. It is shared like food at the family table and like the love in our hearts. In this way, families become privileged places in which to encounter Jesus, who loves us and desires our good, always' (Mass for the Jubilee of Families). 22. 'Our affection for our loved ones — for the wife or husband with whom we have spent so much of our lives, for our children, for our grandchildren who brighten our days — does not fade when our strength wanes. Indeed, their own affection often revives our energy and brings us hope and comfort' (Message for the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly). 23. 'It is the responsibility of government leaders to work to build harmonious and peaceful civil societies. This can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman' (Audience with the diplomatic corps). The grace of the Holy Spirit 24. 'The Holy Spirit comes to challenge us, to make us confront the possibility that our lives are shriveling up, trapped in the vortex of individualism' (Mass on the solemnity of Pentecost). 25. 'The Spirit of God allows us to find a new way of approaching and experiencing life. He puts us in touch with our inmost self, beneath all the masks we wear. He leads us to an encounter with the Lord by teaching us to experience the joy that is his gift' (Mass on the solemnity of Pentecost). Christ the Eucharist and the Church 26. 'All the fruitfulness of the Church and of the Holy See depends on the cross of Christ. Otherwise, it is only appearance, if not worse' (Homily on the Jubilee of the Holy See). 27. 'Christ is God's answer to our human hunger, because his body is the bread of eternal life: Take this and eat of it, all of you!' (Homily on the solemnity of Corpus Christi). 28. 'When we partake of Jesus, the living and true bread, we live for him. By offering himself completely, the crucified and risen Lord delivers himself into our hands, and we realize that we were made to partake of God' (Homily on the solemnity of Corpus Christi). 29. 'The life of the Church and of the world, indeed, can only be understood in the succession of generations, and embracing an elderly person helps us understand that history is not exhausted in the present, nor is it consummated amid fleeting encounters and fragmentary relationships, but rather opens the way toward the future' (Message for the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly). 30. 'Unity in the Church and among the Churches, dear sisters and brothers, is fostered by forgiveness and mutual trust' (Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul). The priesthood 31. 'The priestly ministry is one of sanctification and reconciliation for the building up of the body of Christ in unity' (Jubilee for Priests). 32. 'All too often, today's world offers models of success and prestige that are dubious and short-lived. Do not let yourselves be taken in by them! Look rather to the solid example and apostolic fruitfulness, frequently hidden and unassuming, of those who, with faith and dedication, have spent their lives in service of the Lord and their brothers and sisters. Keep their memory alive by your own example of fidelity' (Jubilee for Priests). 33. 'Let us make an effort, then, to turn our differences into a workshop of unity and communion, of fraternity and reconciliation, so that everyone in the Church, each with his or her personal history, may learn to walk side by side' (Mass and blessing of the pallium of the new archbishops). 34. 'We should pray for the conversion of the many people, inside and outside the Church, who do not yet recognize the urgent need to care for our common home' (Mass for the Care of Creation). 35. 'While it is important that we live our faith in concrete actions and fidelity to our duties, according to each individual's state and vocation, it is also essential that we do so by starting from meditation on the word of God and by paying attention to what the Spirit suggests to our hearts, reserving, for this purpose, moments of silence, moments of prayer, times in which, silencing noise and distractions, we place ourselves before him and achieve unity within ourselves' (Mass at Albano). Young people 36. 'Dear young people, Jesus is our hope ... Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you' (Mass for the Jubilee of Young People). 37. 'And to young people, I say: 'Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!'' (The pope's first Regina Caeli). 38. 'You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world. And today your voices, your enthusiasm, your cries — which are all for Jesus Christ — will be heard to the ends of the earth' (Words of the pope at the inauguration Mass of the Jubilee of Young People). Hope 39. 'Amid life's trials, our hope is inspired by the firm and reassuring certainty of God's love, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. That hope does not disappoint' (Message from the World Day of the Poor). 40. 'By recognizing that God is our first and only hope, we too pass from fleeting hopes to a lasting hope . Once we desire that God accompany us on the journey of life, material wealth becomes relativized, for we discover the real treasure that we need' (Message from the World Day of the Poor). 41. 'In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope. Their courage and tenacity bear heroic testimony to a faith that sees beyond what our eyes can see and gives them the strength to defy death on the various contemporary migration routes' (World Day of Migrants Message). Self-giving and love of neighbor 42. 'The practice of worship does not automatically lead to being compassionate' (Catechesis at the general audience). 43. 'Let us ask the Lord for the gift of understanding where our life is stuck. Let us try to give voice to our desire to be healed' (Catechesis on the healing of the paralytic). 44. 'Every gesture of willingness, every gratuitous act, every forgiveness given in advance, every effort patiently accepted, is a way to prepare a place where God can dwell' (Catechesis on the preparation of the Passover meal). 45. 'Be agents of communion, capable of breaking down the logic of division and polarization, of individualism and egocentrism. Center yourselves on Christ, so as to overcome the logic of the world, of fake news, of frivolity, with the beauty and light of truth' (Jubilee of Digital Influencers and Missionaries). The meaning of life 46. 'A very widespread ailment of our time is the fatigue of living: Reality seems to us to be too complex, burdensome, difficult to face. And so we switch off, we fall asleep, in the delusion that, upon waking, things will be different. But reality has to be faced, and together with Jesus, we can do it well' (Catechesis on the woman with hemorrhages and Jairus' daughter). 47. 'It is very important to listen to the voice of the Lord, to listen to it, in this dialogue, and to see where the Lord is calling us towards' (Homily in the Crypt of St. Peter's Basilica). 48. 'At the root of every vocation, God is present, in his mercy and his goodness, as generous as that of a mother' (Homily at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls). 49. 'The fullness of our existence does not depend on what we store up or, as we heard in the Gospel, on what we possess. Rather, fullness has to do with what we joyfully welcome and share' (Mass for the Jubilee of Young People). 50. 'I am an Augustinian, a son of St. Augustine, who once said: 'With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.' In this sense, all of us can journey together toward the homeland that God has prepared for us' (First greeting after being elected).--CNA
Herald Malaysia
08-08-2025
- Herald Malaysia
CBCMSB focuses on Synod and Rome visit
The 116th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (CBCMSB) opened with a virtual address by Msgr Marcel Šmejkal, the new Counsellor to the Apostolic Nunciature in Malaysia and Timor-Leste. Aug 08, 2025 Richard Chia: The 116th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (CBCMSB) opened with a virtual address by Msgr Marcel Šmejkal, the new Counsellor to the Apostolic Nunciature in Malaysia and Timor-Leste. Speaking from Dili, he conveyed greetings on behalf of Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski and was warmly welcomed by the bishops. Cardinals William Goh and Sebastian Francis reflected on their participation in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. Cardinal William called the election 'a miracle,' while Cardinal Sebastian highlighted the unity shown by the 133 cardinals in reaching a decision within 48 hours. Archbishop Julian Leow, President of CBCMSB, then read a letter from the Apostolic Nunciature announcing the Ad Limina visit to Rome, scheduled for May 18–23, 2026. The visit will mark the first such pilgrimage since 2018, when the bishops met with Pope Francis. A major focus of the plenary was the implementation phase of the Synod of Bishops' Final Document, released in November 2024. The General Secretary of the Secretariat of the Synod, Cardinal Mario Grech, launched the Accompaniment Process in March 2025, outlining a three-year plan beginning with a Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies from Oct 24–26, 2025. CBCMSB will be represented at this Jubilee in Rome by Msgr Jude Miranda (Diocese of Penang), Sr Margarete Sta Maria, and Gregory Pravin (both from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur). Their participation includes plenary sessions, pilgrimage activities, a passage through the Holy Door, an audience with Pope Leo XIV, and a concluding Mass at St Peter's Basilica. To support the ongoing Synodal journey, the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) has established a Commission for Synodality led by Cardinal Pablo David, FABC Vice-President. Archbishop Julian will represent CBCMSB in this commission, supported by individual diocesan representatives from the region. The FABC will also host a Bishops' Seminar on Synodality from Sept 22–26, 2025 in Bangkok. Looking ahead, the bishops noted the upcoming FABC XII Plenary Assembly, scheduled for June 22–28, 2026 in Bali, Indonesia. This major gathering, last held in 2017 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, will see participation from cardinals, episcopal conference presidents, and bishop delegates across Asia. Originally intended as a quadrennial event, the assembly was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the session, the CBCMSB agreed to renew the terms of its current office bearers and episcopal commission presidents for another two years. Each bishop also provided updates on their respective commissions, past initiatives, and upcoming plans. The plenary concluded with a pastoral visit to St Pio's Spirituality Centre in Ulu Tiram, where Fr Joe Matthews OFM Cap and Fr John Anandan OFM Cap welcomed the bishops with afternoon tea and a guided tour of the facilities
Herald Malaysia
04-08-2025
- Herald Malaysia
Pope Leo XIV announces dates for 2027 World Youth Day in South Korea
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday announced that the dates of the next World Youth Day, to be held in Seoul, South Korea, will be Aug. 3–8, 2027. Aug 04, 2025 Pope Leo XIV waves at pilgrims from South Korea before the closing Mass of the Jubilee of Youth at the University of Rome Tor Vergata on Aug. 3, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media By Victoria Cardiel Pope Leo XIV on Sunday announced that the dates of the next World Youth Day, to be held in Seoul, South Korea, will be Aug. 3–8, 2027. 'After this jubilee, the 'pilgrimage of hope' of young people continues and will take us to Asia,' the pontiff said in a message before praying the Angelus at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, 10 miles east of Rome, where he had just celebrated Mass for 1 million participants from 146 countries. 'I renew the invitation that Pope Francis extended in Lisbon two years ago,' he added, referring to World Youth Day in Portugal in 2023. This new edition of World Youth Day, he said, will mark an important stage in the faith journey of the new generations. The theme will be: 'Take courage, I have overcome the world.' Leo XIV concluded his Angelus address with a powerful missionary call: 'You, young pilgrims of hope, will be witnesses of this to the ends of the earth! I look forward to seeing you in Seoul: Let us continue to dream together and to hope together.' The 2027 World Youth Day will be the first to be held in South Korea and the second in Asia, following the historic gathering of young people in Manila, Philippines, in 1995. The pontiff defined the Jubilee of Youth, held in Rome from July 28 to Aug. 3, as 'an outpouring of grace for the Church and for the whole world!' He also thanked the 1 million pilgrims who attended for their witness and enthusiasm. In English, the pope recalled the teens and young adults who suffer in 'every land bloodied by war' and mentioned in particular the young people of Gaza and Ukraine, whose lives are marked by the violence and uncertainty of war. Leo XIV also spoke in Spanish, telling those present they are 'the sign that a different world is possible.' He concluded in Italian with the affirmation that with Christ, faith is possible: 'with his love, with his forgiveness, and with the power of his Spirit.' Mass at Tor Vergata The pope could not contain his emotion at his second and final grand meeting with young people on the 237-acre grounds of Tor Vergata, where more than 1 million young pilgrims had spent the night following a prayer vigil and Eucharistic adoration led by Leo on Aug. 2. A burst of joy swept through the area upon seeing the pontiff descend from the helicopter on the morning of Aug. 3. After an intense night of vigil, marked by a moving moment of silent Eucharistic adoration, Leo XIV told the young people that they are not made for a life that is 'taken for granted and static, but for an existence that is constantly renewed through gift of self in love.' The Jubilee of Youth, part of the Catholic Church's yearlong Jubilee of Hope in 2025, has served as a bridge between the American pope and young people, with whom he has been able to strengthen a relationship thanks to his ability to speak three languages. In his homily, Pope Leo invited the pilgrims to open their hearts to God and venture with him 'towards eternity.' Most of the pontiff's homily was delivered in Italian, with short paragraphs in English and Spanish. The pope focused on the human desire for fulfillment and asked the young people not to satisfy the thirst of their hearts with 'cheap imitations.' 'There is a burning question in our hearts, a need for truth that we cannot ignore, which leads us to ask ourselves: What is true happiness? What is the true meaning of life? What can free us from being trapped in meaninglessness, boredom, and mediocrity?' he said. Thus, he invited everyone to turn their desire for more into 'a step stool, like children who stand on tiptoe, in order to peer through the window of encounter with God. We will then find ourselves before him, who is waiting for us, knocking gently on the window of our soul.' During the Mass, the pope also addressed the experience of the limits and finiteness of things that happen, saying that these topics should not be taboo or topics 'to be avoided.' 'The fragility they speak of is, in fact, part of the marvel of creation,' he emphasized, after quoting from the reading from Ecclesiastes. 'Think of the image of grass: Is not a field of flowers beautiful? Of course, it is delicate, made up of small, vulnerable stems, prone to drying out, to being bent and broken. Yet at the same time these flowers are immediately replaced by others that sprout up after them, generously nourished and fertilized by the first ones as they decay on the ground,' he said. He emphasized: 'We too, dear friends, are made this way, we are made for this.' Reflecting on the readings at Mass, the Holy Father made it clear that 'buying, hoarding, and consuming are not enough.' And he added: 'We need to lift our eyes, to look upwards, to the 'things that are above' (Col 3:2), to realize that everything in the world has meaning only insofar as it serves to unite us to God and to our brothers and sisters in charity, helping us to grow in 'compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience' (Col 3:12).' Evoking St. John Paul II, the founder of World Youth Days, he proclaimed: 'Jesus is our hope.' 'It is he, as St. John Paul II said, 'who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives ... to commit … to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal,'' Leo said.--CNA
