On July 9, 2023, Pope Francis appointed FABC OSC Chairman and Bishop Penang Bishop Sebastian Francis as Cardinal. According to the Vatican News, the Pope while announcing the new cardinals said he would hold a Consistory for the creation of 21 new Cardinals in the Vatican which will be held on September 30, 2023.
Bishop Sebastian Francis was born on Nov. 11, 1951 in Johor Bahru. He was ordained a priest of Melaka-Johor on July 28, 1977. He studied in Rome and has been active in pastoral care and in education. On July 7, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Penang. His episcopal ordination was held at St Anne’s Church in Bukit Mertajam on Aug. 21, 2012. Before his appointment as Bishop, Monsignor Sebastian Francis served as Vicar General of Melaka-Johor Diocese.
Since 2016 he has been serving as the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. In 2022 Bishop Sebastian was appointed chairman of the FABC Office of Social Communication.
We are very happy and rejoice at the elevation of Bishop Sebastian as a Cardinal. In the name of the FABC OSC and in your name, I extend to him our hearty congratulations. We assure him of our prayers for his new responsibilities for the universal church.
Fr George Plathottam sdb
Executive Secretary, FABC OSC