Malaysia: Archbishop Simon Poh Urges Christians to Embrace Cross in Good Friday Message

As Christians around the world marked Good Friday in solemn remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Malaysian prelate Archbishop Simon Poh urged the faithful to become instruments of forgiveness, healing, and peace in a world marked by conflict and division.

Speaking during the Good Friday liturgy at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Kuching, eastern Malaysia, the archbishop said the suffering and death of Christ on the Cross remain a powerful sign of God’s love for humanity.

“Good Friday is not only about recalling the pain and humiliation that Jesus endured,” Archbishop Poh said. “It is about recognizing the depth of God’s love,a love that forgives, heals, and restores even in the face of violence and rejection.”

He noted that Christ’s words on the Cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” continue to challenge Christians today.

“In a time when our world is wounded by war, hatred, and injustice, the message of Good Friday calls us to forgive as we have been forgiven,” he said. “We cannot claim to follow Christ if we continue to harbor anger, division, and indifference toward others.”

Echoing the universal Church’s call to prayer, the archbishop encouraged Catholics in the Archdiocese of Kuching to unite spiritually with the Holy Father and the global Church in praying for peace, especially for those affected by violence and displacement.

“Christ is still crucified today in the suffering of the innocent,” he said. “When we stand at the foot of the Cross, we stand with all who are in pain, the poor, the oppressed, and those whose voices are silenced.”

Archbishop Poh emphasized that the Cross, central to Christian faith, is not merely a symbol but a call to action.

“The Cross teaches us to love without counting the cost, to forgive without limits, and to serve with humility,” he said. “If we truly venerate the Cross, then we must live what it represents.”

As the Church moves from the sorrow of Good Friday to the hope of Easter, he urged Christians to carry the message of the Cross into their daily lives.

“Good Friday leads us to Easter,” he said. “But before we rejoice in the Resurrection, we must first walk the path of sacrifice, mercy, and love. Only then can we become true witnesses of hope in our world.”

Across Malaysia, churches were filled with worshippers who gathered in silence and prayer, reflecting on the Passion of Christ and renewing their commitment to live out the values of the Gospel.

In Sarawak and neighboring Sabah, Good Friday is observed as a state public holiday, allowing Christians to participate fully in church services and enter into the solemnity of the day.

State leaders also extended greetings to the Christian community. Sarawak Governor Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Chief Minister Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg expressed hope that the occasion would bring “joy, peace, and comfort” to those celebrating, while emphasizing the importance of family, unity, and mutual respect.

As churches across the state filled with the faithful in prayer and reflection, the message of Good Friday resonated beyond the sanctuary, a call to live lives marked by compassion, reconciliation, and sacrificial love.