KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia was well represented at the April 26 funeral of Pope Francis, with Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said making their presence felt at Vatican City.
In what is meant to be a solemn affair, Malaysia’s representatives were in an upbeat mood, taking selfies with several world leaders past and present, including former US president Joe Biden and former president of Indonesia Joko Widodo.
Both Ewon and Azalina also met with the Philippines’ president Bongbong Marcos Jr at the ceremony.
Both ministers were accompanied by Malaysia’s ambassador to the Holy See Hendy anak Assan.
It is understood that Azalina had offered to attend since she was already in The Hague, Netherlands, attending the Public Hearing of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion proceedings on Palestine.
However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also wanted Ewon, a Catholic, to be the country’s official representative.
Ewon had, in fact, travelled with Bishop of Penang Datuk Seri Sebastian Francis to Rome. Francis, a Cardinal, will be voting for the new Pope in the May 7 conclave.
Earlier, the ministers paid their respects at Pope Francis’ coffin and signed the condolence book.
Azalina, in her Instagram post added that she also met with several representatives of Muslim nations, including Pakistan Foreign Minister Chaudry Salik Hussain. – April 30, 2025