by Paolo Affatato
Kuala Lumpur – The Catholic community in Malaysia is called “to embark on a path of renewal, mission, and prophetic acts, and to recognize the signs of the times, otherwise it risks being like an empty gong,” affirms Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim of Kuala Lumpur, President of the Episcopal Conference of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. Upon his return to Malaysia after his ad limina visit to the Vatican, the Archbishop shared with Fides his reflections on the life of the Church in the country, which is undergoing a process of internal renewal ahead of the major National Pastoral Assembly to be held in September in Sibu, in the State of Sarawak where representatives from the country’s diverse cultural communities will gather.
Archbishop Leow portrays a small yet vibrant community living in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious context, called to grow amidst interreligious dialogue, social challenges, and new forms of cultural fragility.
“The Catholic community in Malaysia is dynamic and continues to grow” the Archbishop observes, while acknowledging that it operates “within rather strict political, legal and social boundaries” in a Muslim-majority country. Although freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Constitution, some practical restrictions remain: “We can still build new churches, unlike in Brunei, but government approval is subject to fairly strict regulations,” he explains, noting that the authorities impose limits on the size and height of church buildings according to the number of faithful they are intended to serve. “Still, we are able to build, and that is something positive.”
Despite these constraints, the Church continues to expand. In the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur alone, between 600 and 700 new adult baptisms are administered annually as part of the rite of Christian initiation for adults, in addition to the baptisms of children from Catholic families. These new Catholics come from other religions or various ethnic groups in Malaysia and Borneo. “Malaysia is a pluralistic society,” the Archbishop notes, but reminds us that the Malays, the majority population, are Muslim and, according to the constitution, cannot convert to Christianity. Approximately 3% of the Malaysian population is Catholic, which corresponds to about 1.3 million believers, while Christians as a whole make up about 9%. However, the Church’s presence is unevenly distributed: around 70% of Catholics live in the eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak, in Borneo, where Christianity is deeply rooted among the indigenous population. In the Malay Peninsula, however, the Catholic community forms a small minority, concentrated mainly in the major cities. Migrants also make an important contribution to the life of the church. “Many young people come from Myanmar to escape the war,” says Archbishop Leow. There are also refugees from Pakistan, often fleeing violence, as well as people from Iran and other countries in the Middle East. “Some come to work, others are genuine refugees. Malaysia is proving to be a welcoming country,” he says.
The vitality of the Church can also be measured by the steady stream of new conversions to the Catholic faith. “We continue to see many conversions and baptisms of both adults and children,” the Archbishop notes. “In Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei together, we administer thousands of baptisms every year. That is why we look to the future of our community with hope,” he adds.
Among the main challenges facing the Church, Archbishop Leow points first to secularism and growing religious indifference. “We live in a highly technological society where many people are no longer interested in the spiritual life and God.” The pandemic also left its mark on ecclesial life. “After Covid, many young people stayed away from church services, and some older people got used to following Mass online. But now they are slowly returning.” Added to this is the widespread problem of misinformation circulating through digital media, which also creates confusion regarding the life of the Church. In a multi-religious context, interreligious dialogue is one of the defining aspects of the Catholic presence in the country. The Church actively participates in organizations where Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, and Taoists come together to address issues of common concern. “When we speak with one voice, the government listens,” says Archbishop Leow. The dialogue addresses sensitive issues such as religious freedom, religious conversions and controversies surrounding colonial-era places of worship that are now affected by land ownership disputes. While acknowledging the existence of small Islamist extremist groups, the Archbishop observes that “in general we live in peace and harmony” and that the government seeks to preserve balance among the country’s different religious communities.
The situation regarding vocations presents both encouraging and challenging aspects. Across Malaysia, there are approximately 85 seminarians in minor and major seminaries representing the country’s nine dioceses; 17 of them belong to the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. “That is a positive sign, but it is not enough,” the Archbishop comments. “I have just ordained two new priests, but at the same time, some elderly priests are retiring. We still need priestly vocations.” And the decline in vocations to religious life, for both men and women, is even more evident. Archbishop Leow also cites changes in Catholic schools as a reason for the decline in vocations. Although these institutions remain highly respected and are attended by students of all faiths, they are now largely run by laypeople, because the government does not allow them to be run by religious orders. “There are not many members of religious orders left in the schools,” he observes. “Furthermore, the presence of religious symbols in Peninsular Malaysia is very limited, and many school principals are not Catholic. Thus, the daily witness that, for generations, fostered the emergence of new vocations has disappeared,” he explains.
Regarding the Church’s path, the Catholic Church in Malaysia is looking to the future with a sense of renewal and shared responsibility: “We are preparing for the National Pastoral Assembly of Malaysia, which will take place this coming September,” explains Archbishop Leow. It offers the entire Church in the country an opportunity to discuss “how we can live our mission authentically and courageously.” Archbishop Leow summarizes the spirit of the meeting: “We are called to act prophetically. Renewal must begin with us, otherwise we are like an empty gong.” Among the central themes of the assembly are the shared responsibility of clergy and laity, as well as the involvement of younger generations: “We are called to give priority to young people,” the Archbishop declared, warning that the Church “risks losing its future if it does not accompany young people through the challenges of our time, which are also characterized by the isolation of digital culture.”
The strong focus on young people is clearly reflected in preparations for the next World Youth Day, to be held in South Korea next August: The Archbishop hopes to accompany at least 500 young people from his diocese and about 2,000 from across Malaysia. But the ultimate goal extends beyond this single event. “Young people are searching for answers to life’s big questions,” he observed. “Our faith can offer those answers, but we must learn to communicate them in their language.” Therefore, he emphasizes the need for ongoing support: “One major event every three or four years is not enough. When young people return to their dioceses and parishes, we must continue to accompany them and offer them pastoral care that speaks their language and addresses their needs, telling them: Christ is with you in every moment and in every aspect of your life.” The hope that inspires the Malaysian Church is rooted in its evangelical witness within society. “I hope we can strengthen our faith to bear authentic witness to the Gospel and be a beacon of light for the entire nation,” says Archbishop Leow. “I wish that the Church would help not only Catholics, but all people, to find meaning in life and answers to their deepest questions,” he says.
After the ad limina visit, he adds, one wish remains: “We hope to welcome Pope Leo XIV to Malaysia one day so that he can strengthen the faith of Catholics and bear witness to peace throughout the region.” Referring to the Pope, the Archbishop emphasizes the great esteem he enjoys, including among Muslims: “His words against war and in defense of innocent victims, particularly in the Middle East and in Gaza, are greatly appreciated,” he notes. “I receive messages from people thanking us after hearing the Pope’s speeches,” he concludes, adding that this also contributes to strengthening the Church’s credibility within Malaysian society.
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