Holy See–Malaysia relations

Holy See–Malaysia relations (rationes Sancta Sedes et Malaesia; Relazioni tra Santa Sede e Malesia; Relations entre le Saint-Siège et la Malaisie; Hubungan Malaysia–Takhta Suci; Jawi: هوبوڠن مليسيا–تختا سوچي) are foreign relations between the Holy See and Malaysia.

The current Ambassador-Designate of Malaysia to the Holy See is Mr. Hendy Assan, while the current Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia is Archbishop Wojciech Załuski.

History
In 2002, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visited the Vatican to meet Pope John Paul II. During the second visit of the next Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak and Pope Benedict XVI at the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo, an agreement to establish diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Malaysia was finalised. Malaysia became the 179th state to establish diplomatic relations with the Holy See.

The Holy See previously had an apostolic delegation, based in Bangkok, for the country. Pending the appointment of the first Nuncio to Malaysia, the papal representative in Bangkok continued to act as Apostolic Delegate for Malaysia, accredited to the Catholic Church in the country but not to the Government. In January 2013, Archbishop Joseph Marino was appointed as the first nuncio to Malaysia.

In 2016, Malaysia appointed Bernard Giluk Dompok as the first resident ambassador to the Holy See. In 2017, the Holy See opens its official chancery in Kuala Lumpur.