Najib: Malaysia's first Roman Catholic cardinal appointment is a true honour

Pope Francis gives the traditional biretta hat to new cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez during a consistory ceremony to install 17 new cardinals in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Nov 19. - Reuters

PETALING JAYA: Rev Archbishop Anthony Soter Fernandez's appointment to cardinal is a "true honour" for Malaysia and it reflects the country's multi-cultural society, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Fernandez is Malaysia's first Roman Catholic cardinal, he was among 17 prelates who were elevated to the second highest rank within the Roman Catholic hierarchy by Pope Francis on Nov 19.