Celebrating 12 years of Pope Francis’ pontificate

Mar 22, 2025

By Tianne Pereira
On March 9, the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist hosted a joyful celebration marking the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate. The Mass, held at 11.00am on the First Sunday of Lent, was presided over by Archbishop Julian Leow. Concelebrating were His Excellency Wojciech Zaluski, the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia; Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam; and parish priest Fr Gerard Theraviam. The event was attended by numerous religious, dignitaries, ambassadors, Church luminaries, and the faithful.

Addressing the congregation at the end of the Mass, Archbishop Wojciech expressed gratitude for their presence in celebrating Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome and successor of St Peter. He acknowledged the rapid passage of time since Pope Francis’ election, particularly with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He reflected on Pope Francis’ leadership in guiding the Church through the synodal path, fostering a renewed spirit of evangelisation.

With the Filipino congregation animating the Mass, the nuncio recalled Pope Francis stating that Filipinos serve as modern-day missionaries around the world. He also noted how the Holy Father’s recent travels to this region allowed him to establish a deeper connection with the faithful in Southeast Asia. Although not all could attend the papal audiences, the nuncio assured them of the Pope’s awareness of, and appreciation for, the vibrant faith of the Church in the region.

The nuncio expressed heartfelt thanks to all who have continuously prayed for Pope Francis, especially as he faces health challenges. He reiterated the Pope’s customary plea at every public audience: to pray for him, and he urged the congregation to keep the Holy Father and his intentions in their prayers. He also extended his gratitude to Archbishop Julian for the invitation to celebrate this special occasion and acknowledged the presence of all those attending, including his colleagues and the Argentinian community. Before concluding, the nuncio reminded the faithful that Lent is a time of preparation for Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, and led the congregation in prayer for Pope Francis.

Earlier, Archbishop Julian, in his homily, reflected on the Gospel reading of the day, which recounts the temptations of Jesus after His baptism and divine acknowledgment by God. The archbishop posed a thoughtprovoking question: “If Jesus Himself could be tempted, what about us? Do we stand a chance against the devil, who is indeed real?” He emphasised that just as the devil sought to derail Jesus’ mission, he attempts to lead us away from God.

The prelate urged the faithful to recognise that we are not just physical beings; we are also spiritual — we have a soul, a mind, reasoning, and the Divine within us. Because of this divine presence, we are more than just human. He reminded the congregation that Ash Wednesday serves as a reminder of the temporary nature of the body, which will return to dust, while the soul endures eternally with God. “How am I preparing my soul? How am I strengthening my spiritual life?” he asked.

Drawing from the Gospel, Archbishop Julian noted that Jesus resisted temptation by using Scripture, the Word of God. He also emphasised the importance of fasting to help individuals gain control over their desires, encouraging them to abstain from sin and draw closer to God. As Lent progresses, he called upon the faithful to dedicate themselves to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. “Let us look after our souls and the souls of others. May we rely on God more and more and not on ourselves. May the Eucharist we receive help us focus on Christ,” he concluded.

To close the celebration, Fr Gerard invited Archbishop Julian and the Apostolic Nuncio to bless a statue of Our Lady of the Magnificat, which is to be installed on the façade of the cathedral’s upcoming community centre. The new facility, now in its final stages of construction, will be named the Magnificat Community Centre and will serve as a beacon of faith and service for the community.

The Mass and accompanying celebrations reflected the deep gratitude and unity of the Catholic faithful in Kuala Lumpur as they honoured Pope Francis’ twelve years of unwavering leadership and commitment to the Church and the world.