KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's first Roman Catholic Cardinal, Anthony Soter Fernandez, was buried here today.
His funeral Mass was attended by only 20 people at the Cathedral of St John, Kuala Lumpur, owing to crowd restrictions of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
The proceedings were followed by thousands of Malaysians and Catholics around the world via a live streamed Mass.
As befitting a Cardinal and church leader, the Kedah-born Fernandez, was buried in a crypt at the cathedral, next to the first Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Tan Sri Dominic Vendargon.
The funeral Mass was presided by Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Most Reverend Julian Leow Beng Kim, and attended by Fernandez's family members and other representatives of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.
Also present were The Titular Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang, Right Reverend Datuk Sebastian Francis who is also the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei, and Archbishop Emeritus of Kuala Lumpur Most Reverend Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam.
"True to his simplicity and humble nature, Cardinal chose this time of the CMCO to leave us." Leow said in a statement.
"He shys away from publicity but never responsibility.
"We will all miss him dearly," he said on the passing of Fernandez, who died of tongue cancer at the age of 88 on Oct 28.
Fernandez, who was also Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in November 2016.
Since the day of his passing, social media has been awash with outpourings of grief, messages of condolences and tender tributes.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah had expressed their condolences on Fernandez's death.
"Their Majesties (also) extend their sympathies to the family, loved ones and the Roman Catholic community and express their hope for them to be patient and strong in facing this difficult and distressing time," a posting by Istana Negara on its Facebook stated.
"Their Majesties recognise Fernandez's legacy and contribution throughout his distinguished service to the country and people of Malaysia.
"His passing is a great loss to the Roman Catholic community and to the nation," it added.
Meanwhile, having learned "with sadness" of the death of the Cardinal, Pope Francis expressed his "heartfelt condolences" in a letter to Archbishop Leow, and to the "clergy, religious and laity of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur."
In his letter, the Pope prayed for the Cardinal's "eternal rest", expressing his gratitude for his "faithful witness to the Gospel, his generous service to the Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia and his longstanding commitment to the promotion of ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue."