Malaysia sends ministers Azalina and Ewon to Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican, honours his interfaith and climate legacy
Visitors pay their respects to late Pope Francis as he lies in state in a coffin (Bottom R) at St Peter's Basilica in The Vatican, on April 24, 2025. — AFP pic
Friday, 25 Apr 2025 9:13 AM MYT
VATICAN CITY, April 25 – Malaysia will be represented at the state funeral of Pope Francis tomorrow by Law Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick, Putrajaya said today.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ewon has also signed the Book of Condolences at the Apostolic Nunciature in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, on behalf of the Malaysian government.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed his condolences, honouring Pope Francis’s legacy in promoting interfaith understanding, protecting the environment, and standing up for the marginalised,” it said.
The funeral, held in Vatican City, will feature a solemn Mass at St Peter’s Square led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals.
This will be followed by a ceremonial procession and private interment at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Pope Francis, who died earlier this month, was the first pontiff from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and led the Catholic Church from 2013 until his death.
He was widely regarded as a reformist figure who sought to modernise the Church’s role in global affairs and improve relations with other faiths.
His papacy was also marked by strong advocacy on climate change, economic inequality, and humanitarian causes.
Malaysia, a multi-religious nation with a Muslim majority, has maintained diplomatic ties with the Vatican since 2011.
The late pope’s efforts to build bridges across faiths were noted and appreciated by Malaysian leaders and civil society groups.
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well done Madani 👍👍👍😀
https://t.me/GoBPH/5821
ReplyDelete📹 Israel removed Pope Francis' condolence tweet within hours of posting – WikiLeaks
Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide were also ordered to remove similar posts and avoid signing the Vatican embassy's condolence books, The Independent reported, citing local media.
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🤡Cringeworthy celebration: Ukrainians dance on the Pope’s grave
Ukrainians have been rushing to X to mock Pope Francis following his death.
Earlier, Reuters reported that Ukrainian Catholics were upset with the Pontiff’s stance, since he had not explicitly sided with Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
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How can the sneak miss any event that will allow him to grovel at the international stage of this nature...the AI meme of the White House incident is still fresh in the social media memory...
ReplyDeletehttps://apnews.com/article/italy-vatican-pope-funeral-dignitaries-b8c206d03e3535b8ee3b18d42667b803
World News
Trump and Zelenskyy among dignitaries converging on Rome for funeral of Pope Francis
This is interesting...Putin, Trump, the jester, the ghouls of EU, all at Rome for the Pope Francis funeral. from 34 minute mark onwards....
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/4p2W-bgaeyo?si=t5Xz93Jh-d4iyD5w
Media can find out from Sebastian Cardinal Francis, when he returns to Penang after the conclave completed, unless he accepted being picked... ;-)
ReplyDelete~~~~~
https://gulfnews.com/special-reports/room-of-tears-choosing-the-new-pope-wrapped-in-secrecy-isolation-1.500103959
'Room of Tears': Choosing the new pope wrapped in secrecy, isolation
How centuries-old ritual to elect a new leader of 1.41-billion Catholics could pan out
Last updated: April 25, 2025 | 15:23
Jay Hilotin (Senior Assistant Editor) and Visuals by Vijith Pulikkal, Assistant Product Manager
4 MIN READ
The legacy of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, is already shaping up to be one of the most distinctive in modern papal history.
When a pope passes away or resigns, the Catholic Church initiates a centuries-old ritual called a conclave — a process rich in history, symbolism, and theological depth.
In a conclave, the cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel for a secret election — to thwart outside interference.
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The Room of Tears
Before appearing to the world, the new pope is led to the "Room of Tears", where he dons papal vestments.
The name reflects the emotional and spiritual weight of the role: isolation, responsibility, and the realisation that one is now the spiritual father of the world's Roman Catholics.
Why the name?
The name “Room of Tears” (Italian: Stanza del Pianto) comes from the deeply emotional moments that have occurred there.
Some popes have reportedly wept or appeared visibly overwhelmed upon entering the room right after their election in the Sistine Chapel.
It's a private space where the new pope prepares for his first appearance — donning one of three prepared papal cassocks (small, medium, large) — before stepping onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the world.
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Not a democracy — a discernment
Though it involves ballots, the conclave is not an election in the political sense.
There is no campaigning, no politicking, and certainly no bribes or promises.
It’s a spiritual exercise, deeply rooted in Catholic theology. The cardinals don’t vote for who they want, but who they believe God wants.
As one priest said, “It’s not about the man the world wants. It’s about the man God calls.”