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Predominantly Muslim Malaysia and the Holy Seee have established diplomatic ties.
The announcement came after talks between the Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak and Pope Benedic XVI.
“In the cordial conversations, the positive developments in bilateral relations were discussed, and an agreement was reached to establish diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Holy See,” the Vatican said in a statement.
Malaysia has around 28 million people and is the 179th country to have diplomatic relations with the Vatican.
9% of Malaysians are Christian, including 850,000 Catholics.
In recent years, religious minority groups, including Christians, have complained of discrimination by the country’s Muslim majority and among the topics the Pope and Prime Minister discussed was the importance of cultural and religious dialogue for the promotion of justice and peace.
The Holy Father and Najib met at Castelgandolfo, the pope’s summer residence.
Najib said Malaysia’s goal is to promote international bonds of friendship to cultivate harmony.
“The world is at a crossroads, the forces of irrationality and discord are threatening our long-cherished and hard-gained stability and prosperity,” Najib said in a statement issued through Malaysia’s national news agency, Bernama.
Malaysia was one of fewer than 20 countries in the world that didn’t have formal diplomatic ties with the Vatican.
Sources
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News category: World.
