However, half of them pulled out after learning that Malaysia's some 1.5 million Catholics have to share just 900 seats allocated to them by the Singapore archdiocese to attend the papal Mass.

Each of the nine dioceses in Malaysia was given 100 seats, regardless of the number of parishes and Catholics.

Organisers say seats are limited for the Sept 12 papal Mass at the Singapore National Stadium, which can accommodate 40,000 people.

Soosai said most Catholics who signed up with him came from one parish — Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang, about 40 kilometres west of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

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Bradley Stephen Belly was ordained by Archbishop John Wong Soo Kau of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah state, in the northern part of Borneo Island, on Nov 8, the archdiocese said in a notice on Facebook on Nov 13.

The ordination ceremony was held at Saint Peter's Catholic Church in Kudat, the home parish of the newly ordained priest, in the presence of about 2,000 Catholics, including those from neighbouring Sarawak state.

Wong expressed his gratitude and lauded Belly for his courage in "responding to God's call to serve in God's field."

"Continue to pray for this young priest to be able to serve with love," Wong urged Catholics.

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