Pope Francis has sent words of prayer for the people of Myanmar that people may find peace after many years of conflict and persecution.
On Sunday, Pope Francis prayed for peace in Myanmar while addressing the people gathered for the Angelus in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican City.
As revealed in the official Pontiff’s Twitter account @Pontifex, the Pope prayed for Myanmar that “the hands of those who live there no longer need to wipe away tears of pain and death, but instead join together to overcome difficulties and work together to bring peace.”
Myanmar has entered its nine months of the military coup and is facing all-out war as rapid spreading violence has rocked the country since the coup.
Since the coup d’état by the military junta on 01 Feb, the world has witnessed a widespread national protest, civil disobedience movement, marches, and demonstrations in Myanmar. The military responded with brutal violence and indiscriminate shooting using water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, resulting in more than 1,000 civilians.
Pope Francis was greeted at the Yangon International Airport during his visit to Myanmar. Photo/CBCM OSC
From the marching on the street, the peaceful protesters turned to arms to fight the military junta following the deadly crackdown by the military. An estimated number of between 20,000 to 30,000 thousand have had military training in ethnic armed organizations in Chin, Karen, and Kachin regions.
The conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people across Chin, Karen, Karenni, Kachin, Magway and Sagaing regions, with many thousands have crossed the border to seek safer refuge.
The three fronts – a nearly collapsed economy already weakened by a global pandemic, the unceasing people revolt and the soaring war – have been compounding Myanmar.
On Myanmar, meaningful engagement and intervention efforts of the international community is yet to be seen so far.
As of 02 Oct, 7045 are arrested, charged or sentenced, with 1154 killed and 339 sentenced according to (AAPP) Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).
Recent reports indicated that about 25 junta soldiers raided a Catholic church in Mindat Town, Chin State, last Sunday. The IDPs (Internally Displaced People) sheltered at the facility were forcibly interrogated, got their Facebook messenger, and checked text messages to find out who they communicated with.
Several religious places of worship for Christians have been occupied and destroyed by the junta forces.
Pope Francis visited Myanmar in November 2017 amid the Rohingya refugee crisis and met with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. It is learned that Pope Francis is the first and the only Pope visits Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. a country called Myanmar.
