ASIA/MYANMAR - The nation remembers Pope Francis with gratitude, “a man of peace and reconciliation”

Friday, 25 April 2025 pope francis dialogue prayer

MYANMAR

2025-04-25
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Loikaw (Fides Agency) - In a refugee camp in Kayah State, in the Diocese of Loikaw - one of the areas affected by the ongoing civil war in Myanmar - Catholic faithful gathered for a prayer vigil according to the traditional local rite of the Karenni ethnic group to ask for God's protection and blessings for Pope Francis. The spontaneous prayer vigil brought together people living in precarious conditions who wanted to express their deep gratitude to Francis. The Pope is remembered and appreciated as a leader who always cared about Myanmar and the suffering of the Burmese people, mentioning this countless times in his speeches and appeals. “He was concerned about us, he cared about the fate of our people,” people recall.
Throughout Myanmar, spontaneous groups of believers gathered in parishes, chapels, camps for displaced persons, and forest clearings to pray for Pope Francis. In addition, Burmese citizens of all faiths commemorated Pope Francis' historic visit to Myanmar in 2017 and gave thanks for his messages of peace and reconciliation.
The Bishops' Conference of Myanmar prayed for the Pope during a special Mass in honor of Francis, celebrated on April 22 in Yangon Cathedral, presided over by Cardinal Charles Maung Bo and attended by numerous bishops, priests, religious, and members of the diplomatic corps. The chargé d'affaires of the Nunciature, Monsignor Andrea Ferrante, gave a speech in which he traced the biography of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, highlighting in particular the extraordinary event of the apostolic journey to Myanmar in 2017, when the Pope set foot on Burmese soil for the first time. During the ceremony, those present expressed their grief at the loss of the Pope and their affection for him in words and gestures.
Cardinal Bo thanked the Pope, “a man of peace and humility,” on behalf of the Burmese people for his tireless efforts for peace in Myanmar and his calls for prayer and humanitarian aid for the country ravaged by a long civil war and an earthquake. Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu religious leaders were also present at the Mass.
In the diocese of Myitkyina in northern Myanmar, Bishop John La Sam announced a special Eucharistic celebration on the day of the Pope's funeral, April 26, in the cathedral in Myitkyina. Memorial services are also planned in other dioceses, where the faithful can gather for heartfelt prayer.
Buddhist monks also recalled the Pope's many gestures of openness to interreligious dialogue and described him as a “compassionate and kind-hearted man who loved all humanity without distinction.”
On the civil level, the general of the ruling junta, Min Aung Htain, and the National Unity Government (NUG) in exile sent condolences on the death of the pope.(PA) (Fides Agency 25/4/2025)