Pope Benedict interrupts vacation to meet Malaysian Prime Minister

(July 18, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday interrupted his vacation for a moment to receive Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak along with his wife and team. Razak later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. A Vatican statement said that during cordial talks an agreement was reached to establish diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Holy See. In addition, the political and social situation in the world and on the Asian Continent was reviewed, with particular reference to the importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue for the promotion of peace, justice and greater understanding between peoples. Even though there is no diplomatic link with Malaysia, the Holy See has an Apostolic Delegate to Malaysia, Archbishop Leopold Girelli who resides in Singapore. Archbishop Girelli met Razak in May for talks on diplomatic relations. The timing of Najib's visit to the Pope and talks on establishing diplomatic relations is said to be intended to reassure Christians who make up about 9% of the Muslim-majority nation. Razak is Malaysia’s second Prime Minister to meet the Pope, after Mahathir Bin Mohamad met Pope John Paul in 2002.