Pope Benedict XVI receives a gift from Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak during a meeting at the pope's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 18.

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By Gerard O’Connell, Rome
VATICAN CITY: The Holy See and Malaysia agreed to establish diplomatic relations after Pope Benedict XVI and Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Najib Bin Abdul Razak, took the decision during a private meeting in the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, in the hills outside Rome, on July 18.

Related Article: Malaysian PM visits Pope

Malaysia thus becomes the 179th state, out of the 193 member states at the United Nations, to establish full diplomatic ties with the Holy See.

Observers hailed this move as a significant contribution to fostering good relations between Christians and Muslims not only in this southeast Asian state of 28 million people, 9.1% of whom are Christians, among them over 900,000 Catholics, but also internationally on the global stage.

The sun was shining in a clear blue sky as the Malaysian leader and his delegation drove from Rome to Castel Gandolfo, in the Alban Hills overlooking Lake Albano, about 40 minutes drive south of Rome, where popes have had their summer residence for over 400 years.

It was the second visit of a Malaysian Prime Minister to a pope: Mohamad Mahathir met John Paul II in the Vatican, June 2002.

Pope Benedict shook hands warmly with the Prime Minister as he welcomed him on his arrival, and then led him into his library where down the years popes have received heads of state and government from all continents.

The two leaders talked together in private for over 20 minutes. Afterwards, Prime Minister Najib introduced his wife and entourage before going for another 25 minutes conversation with the Vatican’s Secretary of State (a rank equivalent to that of Prime Minister) Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Secretary for Relations with States (popularly known as the Vatican’s ‘Foreign Minister’).

The Vatican broke the news of the diplomatic agreement by issuing a statement to the international press in Rome, around 2 pm local time, which revealed that during the Prime Minister’s “cordial conversations” with Pope Benedict and senior Vatican officials, they discussed “the positive developments in bilateral relations” and “reached an agreement to establish diplomatic relations.”

According to the statement, the two leaders also discussed “the political and social situation in the world, with particular reference to the importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue for the promotion of peace, justice and greater understanding between peoples.”

In his meeting with Pope Benedict, the Malaysian leader recalled how he is a product of Catholic education, having studied at a De La Salle school, and the two leaders talked briefly about the contribution made by the Church to society through its role in education.

Najib also recalled his September 2010 speech to the United Nations, where he called for a Global Movement of the Moderates, and emphasized the need to work for peace and avoid violence, a topic that was sweet music to his host.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Najib said Malaysia had agreed to establish diplomatic relations because it was keen to share its experience and promote world peace and harmony with like-minded states such as the Vatican.

“The world is at a crossroads. The forces of irrationality and discord are threatening our long-cherished and hard-gained stability and prosperity,” he said.

After their private conversation, the Prime Minister presented his wife, Datin Ser Rosmah Mansor, and his multi-faith entourage to the pope.

The delegation included two Cabinet Ministers: Koh Tsu Koon Minister for National Unity, and Bernard Dompok, the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, who is a Catholic. Two Muslim personalities were also part of the group: Senator Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom, who is in charge of Jakim and the chairman of the National Fatwa Council, Dr Abdul Shukor Husin.

Archbishop Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam was there as the representative of the Malaysian Church elected by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia.

Each one greeted the pope, and received a gift from him.

Afterwards, the Pope and Prime Minister exchanged gifts: the Malaysian leader presented the pope with a large traditional framed songket embroidery, whereas the pope gave him a ceramic plaque with a view of St Peter’s Square.

After bidding farewell to the pope, Najib led his delegation to the meeting with the Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. and the Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, where there was also an exchange of gifts.

The Prime Minister was scheduled to fly back to Malaysia on July 19, while the Catholic archbishop remained in Rome for some more days.