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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s first Catholic cardinal, Anthony Soter Fernandez, died aged 88 after an attack of tongue cancer.
He died at 12:35 pm today at the Hermanitas de los Pobres nursing home in Cheras, where he had been under palliative care.
Fernández was diagnosed with tongue cancer in November of last year and had undergone immunotherapy and radiation therapy.
Arrangements for the funeral and viewing will be announced later and are expected to be quiet matters.
Lockdown restrictions allow only 20 people to attend the service and funeral.
Normally, the church would have a significant firing for a leader from Fernandez’s position.
Everyone who knew him described him as an extraordinary leader of the Catholic Church and a just, courageous and sincere man with a great pastoral heart.
They said he was also a kind and lovable person, always with a smile.
Fernandez played an important role in interfaith dialogue, chairing the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism from 2001 to 2003.
He professed the need for consensus on every decision and was a pivot in maintaining the unity of the council.
Born in Sungai Petani, Kedah, he began his 50-year career when he was ordained a priest in Penang in 1966. Twelve years later, he became bishop of the diocese.
Fernández retired as archbishop here in 2013 after a 20-year service and was named a cardinal by Pope Francis three years later.
His death leaves the College of Cardinals with 218 members, 122 of whom are under the age of 80 and therefore can vote in a conclave.
Condolence messages can be posted on a web form at http://cardinal.archkl.org.
