Archbishop Julian Leow presents Malaysia Pastoral Convention

In brief

Archbishop Julian Leow of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur presented the 2026 Malaysia Pastoral Convention, a major assembly for the Catholic community held from September 9 to 13 in Sibu, Sarawak. Nearly 1,000 delegates are attending the event to reflect on the role of the Church in Malaysia and to find ways to celebrate faith while embracing cultural and ethnic diversity.

The convention focuses on four themes: family, Church, society, and ecology. These topics follow a synodal approach of celebrating, listening, and walking. Archbishop Leow stated that the gathering serves as an opportunity for participants to listen to each other's joys, sorrows, hopes, and dreams to better support one another. He noted that the assembly aims to help the Church identify pastoral paths that address current challenges and prepare for future ones through shared discernment.

An organizing committee including delegates from all nine Malaysian dioceses prepared the event. Cardinal Sebastian Francis, the Bishop of Penang, said the outcomes of the convention should be determined by all participants in the synodal process rather than by the bishops alone.