The "peace missive conveyed by Pope Francis through Anwar Ibrahim" is a reflection of the "irrepressible spiritual joy" that the new head of the Vatican is intent on conveying to one and all, says Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing.

Anwar last week returned from an international conference aimed at fostering Christian-Muslim understanding, organised by Sant E'gidio, a Catholic group headquartered in Rome that is renowned for such initiatives.

In remarks made yesterday, the Malaysian opposition leader said Pope Francis had told him that he was praying for peace between Christians and Muslims in Malaysia.

NONE"I told him that it was our common duty to make sure that it happens," said Anwar, a frequent invitee at international inter-religious conferences because of his espousal of engagement across sectarian lines.

Bishop Paul, who like Pope Francis is Jesuit-trained, offered the view that the pope's "irrepressible spiritual joy, unaffected and spontaneous" has come through in his contacts with people of all faiths and denominations.

"When Anwar said that the pope evinced compassion for the sufferings of Muslims in the conflict in Syria, while at the same time lamenting the destruction of churches and taking of Christian lives in that anguished country, he was conveying the solicitude of the pope for all who suffer," opined the bishop, who is head of the Catholic Church in the Malacca-Johor diocese.

"Whether it is Muslim or Christian, or anyone else who suffers from human beings' inhumanity to humans, the pope grieves for the victims and prays for an end to their torment," said the prelate.

Bishop Paul said Pope Francis was modelling himself after the example of the 13th century Saint Francis of Assisi, famed in history for a path-breaking overture to a Muslim leader at the height of the crusades.

"This is a man who wants to break religion out of the stuffy confines of the legislative and place it in the interactive atmosphere of the streets," the bishop added.