Cardinal Sebastian Francis, the Catholic prelate from Malaysia with ancestral roots in Kerala

Kochi: “I’ve recently studied more about Mother Eliswa. She stands apart from those canonised as saints. Mother experienced life as a wife, mother, and widow, an individual who chose her own path by breaking through the barriers of the 19th century. It was through her that Malayalis began contemplating an ascetic way of life,” said the Archbishop of the Diocese of Penang, Malaysia, who was entrusted by the Pope to oversee the beatification of Mother Eliswa.

Cardinal Sebastian Francis (73) traces his ancestral roots to Thrissur. Though his parents had migrated to Malaysia, he knows only a few words of Malayalam. He is the second Bishop from Malaysia to be elevated to the rank of Cardinal, the first being Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez, who also had South Indian ancestry. Cardinal Francis served as President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia from 2016 to 2023.

Born in Johor Bahru, near the Malaysia–Singapore border, he grew up in a multicultural environment. His father ran a Kerala restaurant there, and while Malayalam was spoken at home, English remained the primary language among the children.

Kerala-style cuisine was a staple in their household, so he has had no difficulty adjusting to the food during his stay in Kochi. He has visited various parts of India, including multiple trips to Kerala. He had undergone Ayurvedic treatment at Jubilee Mission Hospital in Thrissur. During a visit to Thrissur after being appointed Archbishop, he received a warm welcome led by Mar Andrews Thazhath. It was during this visit that he discovered his maternal family, which resides in Ollur, Thrissur. He has since maintained contact with them, although he has yet to trace his paternal relatives. He also has relatives in Chennai.

Although Catholics are a minority in Malaysia, they remain a strong presence, particularly in the healthcare sector. The community divided as Chinese, Tamil, and European Catholics with distinct churches and worship traditions has been unified under a Malaysian Catholic identity. He noted that the Malaysian Catholic Church has the largest lay participation in Asia. Lay members are represented in various Church committees. The individual who accompanied the Cardinal to Kochi as his secretary was also a layperson.