The 116th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei (CBCMSB) opened on July 30 in a spirit of communion and renewed commitment to synodality, as bishops from across the three nations gathered to discuss key ecclesial developments in the region.
According to Today’s Catholic, which reported extensively on the gathering, the bishops held in-depth discussions on the implementation phase of the Synod of Bishops, based on the Final Document released in November 2024 and the follow-up framework introduced in March 2025 by Cardinal Mario Grech. A three-year accompaniment process has been outlined, beginning with the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies, scheduled for 24–26 October 2025.
CBCMSB will be represented at the Rome gathering by Msgr. Jude Miranda (Diocese of Penang), Sr. Margarete Sta Maria, and Mr. Gregory Pravin (both from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur). Their participation will include plenary sessions, a pilgrimage through the Holy Door, an audience with Pope Leo XIV, and a closing Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
In the wider Asian context, CBCMSB will also contribute to the new Commission for Synodality established by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC). Headed by Cardinal Pablo David, FABC Vice-President, the commission will include Archbishop Julian Leow, President of CBCMSB, as the regional representative, supported by delegates from each diocese in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.
The next major milestone is the upcoming FABC Bishops’ Seminar on Synodality, to be held from 22–26 September 2025 in Bangkok, followed by the FABC XII Plenary Assembly, scheduled for 22–28 June 2026 in Bali, Indonesia. The plenary, last held in 2017 in Colombo, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will bring together cardinals, bishops, and Church leaders from across Asia.
As highlighted by Today’s Catholic, the CBCMSB’s current plenary reflects the growing desire among Asian Churches to deepen synodality, strengthen communion, and stand in closer unity with the Universal Church under the guidance of Pope Leo XIV.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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