From 29 November until 1st December 2017 in San Josè, Costa Rica, there is an International Symposium being conducted on the theme: Laudato Si': The care of our common home, a needed conversation about human ecology. The gathering has been organized by the Catholic University of Costa Rica and by the Vatican Joseph Razinger-Benedict XVI Foundation.
Video Message of His Holiness, Pope Francis
offered to participants taking part in the
International Symposium on Laudato Si'
I greet all of you who are participating in this Symposium organized by the Catholic University of Costa Rica with the collaboration of the Ratzinger Foundation. I thank the President of the Republic for the support given to this initiative, which promotes a cause close to my heart.
With the Encyclical Laudato Si', I drew the attention of humanity and the Church to the most urgent questions relating to the care of our common home and the present and future of the peoples who inhabit it. The problems of the destruction of the natural environment are increasingly grave and the consequences on the lives of people are dramatic.
To face these, we need to have a broader vision of the causes, the nature of the crisis and its various aspects. No, a negationist attitude in the face of this world problem is not legitimate. It is essential for there to be collaboration among scientists, sociologists, economists and politicians, as well as educators and formers of consciences. Without a true conversion of our attitudes and our everyday behaviour, technical solutions will not save our home.
As Pope Benedict XVI said, a human ecology is needed, placing at the centre the full development of the person and appealing to his or her responsibility for the common good, for the respect and good administration of the creatures God has entrusted to us.
I hope with all my heart that this Symposium will provide a strong impetus for collaboration between Catholic Universities - in particular in Latin America and in the Caribbean - for the study of these problems, the development of the situation and possible solutions; and also to suggest concrete proposals, to inspire greater responsibility for the care of our common home, not only by individuals but also in political, social and ecclesial communities, and finally, in families.
There is a need for solidarity and for efforts by all. The Encyclical Laudato Si' is an appeal to each and every one of us. There is a need for collaboration by everyone, in order to receive the message of Laudato Si' and translate it into real life, for the good and the future of the human family.
(Translation by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana)
At 5:30pm local time (6:30am EST), the Holy Father, Pope Francis paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic of Bangladesh, Mister Abdul Hamid.
Upon his arrival, the Pope was welcomed by the Military Secretary who accompanied him to the entrance of honour where the President was waiting.
In the Credentials Hall, the President and the Holy Father held a private meeting which concluded with the introduction of the President's family members and the exchange of gifts.
The Pope and the President then went to the hall where the Holy Father met with local Authorities.
At 6:00pm local time (7:00am EST) today, in the Presidential Palace in Dhaka (Bangladesh), the Holy Father met with local political and religious Authorities, members of the Diplomatic Corps and representatives of civil society.
The gathering was introduced by a few words offered by the President of the Republic, Mister Abdul Hamid.
Greetings offered by Mister Abdul Hamid
President of the Republic of Bangladesh
Your Holiness Pope Francis,
Your Eminence,
Excellencies and High Commissioners,
Honourable Members of Parliament, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Assalamualikum, Shuvo Shondha and a very Good Evening to you all! It is indeed a great privilege and honour to have such an enlightened and revered personality in our midst.
With great excitement and deep respect, our people have been waiting to warmly welcome you and express heartfelt greetings! Today, in this historic hall, which witnessed many historic events, are gathered many eminent personalities, including honourable members of the Cabinet and Parliament, Excellencies Ambassadors/High Commissioners and members of civil society, media and different religious leaders, other distinguished guests from all walks of life. It is a great honour and privilege for me to welcome your Holiness, on behalf of our people and on my own behalf, to Bangabhaban and to this beautiful country, a country where people fought against tyranny of oppression and deprivation, a country of religious harmony, peace and humanity even during difficult times.
Your Holiness, Your visit to Bangladesh is recognition of the history of religious tolerance & harmony and an age-old tradition of peaceful coexistence by people of different religions in Bangladesh. Our constitution imbues us with the spirit of freedom of religion, freedom of expression and the right to democracy. Our people hold dear to their heart the spirit of, religion is personal, but its festivals are universal. We live as Bangladeshis respecting each other’s faith and celebrating festivities together.
Let me take this unique opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to Your Holiness, for conferring the rank of Cardinal on the Archbishop of Dhaka, His Eminence Patrick D’Rozario. Such conferment not only testifies to the devotion of His Eminence D’Rozario.
The relationship between Bangladesh and the Vatican dates back to the seventies when His Holiness Pope Paul VI stopped over in Bangladesh to express solidarity and to share the blessings of God with the people of Bangladesh who were devastated by a hurricane. The opening of the Embassy of the Holy See in February of 1973 in Dhaka is the expression of support for our people and the importance attached to relations with Bangladesh.
Your Holiness, Bangladesh, under the able and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is tirelessly working for a poverty free, hunger free and exploitation free, secular and inclusive Bangladesh to realize the dream Sonar Bangla or Golden Bengal as was envisaged by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, who led us to freedom and self-determination. We have made remarkable progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and attained almost all the MDGs. We have also been working together with the global community and set ourselves to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to create a hunger free, just, peaceful and harmonious and knowledge based society leaving no one behind.
Your Holiness, You also remind us that people are only truly free when they can practice their faith freely and without fear. In our land, we cherish religious liberty. We, therefore, stand with you in defence of religious freedom, knowing that people everywhere must be able to live with their faith, free from fear and intimidation.
You remind us that mercy is the most powerful message of Almighty God, who created us equal. That means welcoming the stranger with empathy and a truly open heart – be it the refugee who flees the brutality of war torn lands, or the immigrant who leaves home in search of a better life or drive on situation like Climate Change.
Your Holiness, as you are aware, our government gave shelter to one million Rohingyas who were forcefully displaced from their ancestral home in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. Thousands of them, including women and children, were brutally killed, thousands of women were violated. They saw their homes burnt into ashes. They had to take shelter in Bangladesh to escape the ruthless atrocities perpetrated by the Myanmar army. Our people welcomed them with open arms, sharing food, shelter and other basic needs. They accepted the inconvenience of accommodating them in such a densely populated land. Now, it is our shared responsibility to ensure for them a safe, sustainable and dignified return to their own home and integration with the social, economic and political life of Myanmar. The very laudable position Your Holiness has taken in favour of the distressed Rohingyas and your passionate voice against such brutality give hope for resolution of the crisis. Your closeness to them, your call for helping them and to ensuring their full rights gives moral responsibility to the international community to act with promptness and sincerity.
Your Holiness, we know that no religion is immune from forms of individual delusion or ideological extremism. Our government is pursuing a Zero Tolerance policy, including eradicating the root causes of terrorism & violent extremism. We denounce terrorism and violent extremism, in all its forms and manifestations. At the same time, like other Muslim majority countries, we remain concerned about the rise of Islamophobia and hate crimes in many western societies, which is adversely affecting the lives of millions of peaceful people of faith. We believe that inter-faith dialogue, at all levels of the society, is important to combat such extremist trends.
Your Holiness, You remind us that we have a sacred obligation to protect our planet, this magnificent gift, which our creator left to us and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. We stand with you in your call to all world leaders to support the communities most vulnerable to adverse effects of a changing climate and to come together to preserve our precious world.
Your call to never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope! gives us the determination to not give up. Your visit renews our resolve towards building a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous world. For that great gift of hope, Your Holiness, we thank you, and welcome you once again to Bangladesh, with joy, honour and gratitude.
Please accept our deep respect and sincere thanks. Following the President's greetings, the Holy Father shared his speech.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
offered to local Authorities
Mr President,
Honourable State and Civil Authorities,
Your Eminence, My brother Bishops,
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the beginning of my stay in Bangladesh, I would like to thank you, Mister President, for the kind invitation to visit this country and for your gracious words of welcome. I come here in the footsteps of two of my predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, to pray with my Catholic brothers and sisters, and to offer them a message of affection and encouragement. Bangladesh is a young state, yet it has always had a special place in the heart of the Popes, who from the start have expressed solidarity with its people, sought to accompany them in overcoming initial adversities, and supported them in the demanding task of nation building and development. I am grateful for the opportunity to address this assembly, which brings together men and women with particular responsibilities for shaping the future of Bangladeshi society.
During my flight here, I was reminded that Bangladesh – Golden Bengal – is a country united by a vast network of rivers and waterways, great and small. That natural beauty is, I think, symbolic of your particular identity as a people. Bangladesh is a nation that strives to join unity of language and culture with respect for the different traditions and communities which, like so many streams, draw from, and return to enrich, the great current of the political and social life of the country.
In today’s world, no single community, nation or state can survive and make progress in isolation. As members of the one human family, we need one another and are dependent on one another. President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman understood and sought to embody this principle in the national Constitution. He envisioned a modern, pluralistic and inclusive society in which every person and community could live in freedom, peace and security, with respect for the innate dignity and equal rights of all. The future of this young democracy and the health of its political life are essentially linked to fidelity to that founding vision. For only through sincere dialogue and respect for legitimate diversity can a people reconcile divisions, overcome unilateral perspectives, and recognize the validity of differing viewpoints. Because true dialogue looks to the future, it builds unity in the service of the common good and is concerned for the needs of all citizens, especially the poor, the underprivileged and those who have no voice.
In recent months, the spirit of generosity and solidarity which is a distinguishing mark of Bangladeshi society has been seen most vividly in its humanitarian outreach to a massive influx of refugees from Rakhine State, providing them with temporary shelter and the basic necessities of life. This has been done at no little sacrifice. It has also been done before the eyes of the whole world. None of us can fail to be aware of the gravity of the situation, the immense toll of human suffering involved, and the precarious living conditions of so many of our brothers and sisters, a majority of whom are women and children, crowded in the refugee camps. It is imperative that the international community take decisive measures to address this grave crisis, not only by working to resolve the political issues that have led to the mass displacement of people, but also by offering immediate material assistance to Bangladesh in its effort to respond effectively to urgent human needs.
Although my visit is primarily addressed to Bangladesh’s Catholic community, a privileged moment will be my meeting tomorrow in Ramna with ecumenical and inter-religious leaders. Together we will pray for peace and reaffirm our commitment to work for peace. Bangladesh is known for the harmony that has traditionally existed between followers of the various religions. This atmosphere of mutual respect, and a growing climate of inter-religious dialogue, enables believers to express freely their deepest convictions about the meaning and purpose of life. In this way, they can contribute to promoting the spiritual values that are the sure basis for a just and peaceful society. In a world where religion is often – scandalously – misused to foment division, such a witness to its reconciling and unifying power is all the more necessary. This was seen in a particularly eloquent way in the common reaction of indignation that followed last year’s brutal terrorist attack here in Dhaka, and in the clear message sent by the nation’s religious authorities that the most holy name of God can never be invoked to justify hatred and violence against our fellow human beings.
Bangladesh’s Catholics, though relatively few in number, nonetheless seek to play a constructive role in the development of the country, particularly through their schools, clinics and dispensaries. The Church appreciates the freedom to practice her faith and to pursue her charitable works, which benefit the entire nation, not least by providing young people, who represent the future of society, with a quality education and a training in sound ethical and human values. In her schools, the Church seeks to promote a culture of encounter that will enable students to take up their responsibilities in the life of society. Indeed, the vast majority of the students and many of the teachers in these schools are not Christians, but from other religious traditions. I am confident that, in accordance with the letter and the spirit of the national Constitution, the Catholic community will continue to enjoy the freedom to carry out these good works as an expression of its commitment to the common good.
Mr President,
Dear friends:
I thank you for your attention and I assure you of my prayers that in your lofty responsibilities, you will always be inspired by the high ideals of justice and service to your fellow citizens. Upon you, and upon all the people of Bangladesh, I willingly invoke the Almighty’s blessings of harmony and peace.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Holy Father and the President returned to the Credentials Hall for the signing of the Book of Honour. Then, following some final greetings, the Pope travelled by car to the Apostolic Nunciature in Dhaka.
In keeping with the long-standing tradition of sending delegations to visit for the respective Feast days of the Holy Apostles - on 29 June in Rome for the celebration of Saints Peter and Paul, and on 30 November for the celebration of Saint Andrew - Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Unity among Christians is leading a delegation sent on behalf of the Holy See to participate in the Feast day celebrations taking place today at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.
Cardinal Koch is accompanied on this visit by His Excellency, Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Unity among Christians; and by Monsignor Andrea Palmieri, Under-secretary of that same Pontifical Council. In Instanbul, they are being joined by the Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey, Archbishop Paul F. Russell.
The delegation from the Holy See took part today in the celebration of the solemn Divine Liturgy which was presided over by His Holiness, Bartholomew I inside the Patriarchal church of Saint George at the Fanar. They then had a meeting with the Patriarch and a series of conversations with members of the synodal commission entrusted with the task of continuing relations with the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Koch delivered a Message to the Ecumenical Patriarch which was signed by the Holy Father. The Message was read aloud at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.
Message of His Holiness, Pope Francis
for the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle
To His Holiness Bartholomew
Archbishop of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarch
Though away from Rome on my Pastoral Visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh, I wish to extend my fraternal best wishes to Your Holiness and to the members of the Holy Synod, the clergy, the monks, and all the faithful gathered for the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Church of Saint George for the liturgical commemoration of Saint Andrew the Apostle, brother of Simon Peter and first-called of the Apostles, the patron saint of the Church of Constantinople and of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. When the deacon invites those gathered during the Divine Liturgy to pray for those who travel by land, sea, and air, I ask you, please, to pray also for me.
The Delegation I have sent is a sign of my spiritual solidarity with your prayer of thanksgiving and praise for all that our Almighty and Merciful God has accomplished through the witness of the Apostle Andrew. In like manner, the Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate welcomed in Rome last June demonstrated its spiritual closeness to us as we celebrated the wonderful deeds that God, the source of all good, accomplished through the Apostles Peter and Paul, patron saints of the Church of Rome.
The Apostles proclaimed to the ends of the earth, through their words and the sacrifice of their lives, what they themselves had seen, heard and experienced - the Word of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ, who died and rose for our salvation. Making our own this proclamation enables us to enter into communion with the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit, which is the very foundation of the communion that already unites those baptized in the name of the Most Holy Trinity (cf 1 Jn 1:1-3). Catholics and Orthodox, by professing together the dogmas of the first seven Ecumenical Councils, by believing in the efficacy of the Eucharist and the other sacraments, and by preserving the apostolic succession of the ministry of bishops, experience already a profound closeness with one another (cf Unitatis Redintegratio, 15). Today, in thanksgiving to the God of love, in obedience to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ and in fidelity to the teaching of the Apostles, we recognize how urgent it is to grow towards full and visible communion.
It is a source of joy to learn that on the eve of the feast of Saint Andrew, during a meeting attended by Your Holiness, the fiftieth anniversary of the visit of Pope Paul VI to the Phanar on 25 July 1967 was commemorated. That historic moment of communion between the Pastors of the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople brings to mind the words of Patriarch Athenagoras in welcoming Pope Paul VI to the Patriarchal Church of Saint George, where you are gathered today. I believe that these words can continue to inspire the dialogue between our Churches: “Let us join together what was divided, wherever this is possible, by deeds in which both Churches are involved, giving added strength to the matters of faith and canonical discipline which we have in common. Let us conduct the theological dialogue according to the principle of full community in the fundamentals of the faith, liberty both in theological thought, where this is pious and edifying and inspired by the main body of the Fathers, and in variety of local customs, as was favoured by the Church from the beginning” (Tomos Agapis, Vatican-Phanar (1958-1970), pp. 382-383).
I offer my heartfelt gratitude to Your Holiness for the generous and warm hospitality extended by the Metropolis of Leros of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the pastoral care of His Eminence Paisios, to the members of the Coordinating Committee of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. I wish to encourage anew this theological dialogue. The consensus reached by Catholics and Orthodox on certain fundamental theological principles regulating the relationship between primacy and synodality in the life of the Church in the first millennium can serve to evaluate, even critically, some theological categories and practices which evolved during the second millennium in conformity with those principles. Such consensus may enable us to envisage a common way of understanding the exercise of the ministry of the Bishop of Rome, in the context of synodality and at the service of the communion of the Church in the present context. This sensitive task needs to be pursued in an atmosphere of mutual openness and, above all, in obedience to the demands that the Holy Spirit makes of the Church.
Your Holiness, beloved brother in Christ, in recent months I have followed with great interest your participation in significant international events held throughout the world regarding the care of creation, peaceful coexistence among peoples of different cultures and religious traditions, and the presence of Christians in the Middle East. Your Holiness’s commitment is a source of inspiration, support and encouragement for me personally for, as you well know, we share these same concerns. It is my fervent hope that Catholics and Orthodox may promote joint initiatives at the local level with regard to these issues, for there are many contexts in which Orthodox and Catholics can already work together without waiting for the day of full and visible communion.
With the assurance of my continued remembrance in prayer, it is with sentiments of warm affection that I exchange with Your Holiness a fraternal embrace of peace.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father from Myanmar to Bangladesh landed at 3:00pm local time (4:00am EDT today) at the International Airport in Dhaka.
Upon his arrival, the Pope was welcomed by the President of the Republic of Bangladesh, Mister Abdul Hamid. Then, two children dressed in traditional clothing offered flowers and a vase of earth to the Holy Father who blessed them in return. Some political and civil authorities were also in attendance, as were 10 Bishops from various dioceses in Bangladesh, a group of the faithful and 40 children who performed traditional dance.
After the national anthems had been played, the members of the respective delegations were introduced to each other.
At the conclusion of the welcoming ceremonies, the Holy Father departed while other traditional dances were being performed. He travelled by car to the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar.
At 4:00pm local time (5:00am local time EST), the Holy Father, Pope Francis paid a visit to the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by some civil authorities who escorted him to the Monument where there was a Guard of Honour waiting.
The Pope laid a wreath of flowers at the Memorial and then as he made his way back from the Memorial, he signed the Golden Book and planted a tree in the Garden of Peace. Finally, he transferred by car to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum where he paid homage to the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Homage to the Father of the Nation
and signing of the Golden Book at the
Bangabandhu Memorial Museum
At 4:45pm local time (5:45am EST), the Holy Father, Pope Francis paid homage to the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Muijibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. Upon his arrival, His Holiness was welcomed by a few relatives of the Father of the Nation. After having laid a floral wreath, the Pope paused in silent prayer and finally signed the Golden Book.
The Holy Father then travelled by car to the Presidential Palace to pay a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic of Bangladesh.
This morning, after having left the Archbishop's residence in Yangon, the Holy Father, Pope Francis went to Saint Mary's Cathedral for a Mass that was celebrated with young people.
Before entering the Cathedral, the Pope greeted the faithful who had gathered in the extended area outside the church aboard the popemobile. Then, at 10:15am local time (10:45pm last night EST), he presided at the Eucharistic celebration for the liturgical Feast of Saint Andrew, the Apostle. Young people from all parts of the country were in attendance.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the Mass celebrated with young people
As my visit to your beautiful country draws to a close, I join you in thanking God for the many graces we have received in these days. Looking out at you, the young people of Myanmar, and all those who are united with us outside this cathedral, I want to share with you a phrase from today’s first reading that resonates within me. Taken from the prophet Isaiah, it was echoed by Saint Paul in his letter to the young Christian community in Rome. Let us listen once again to those words: The footsteps of those who bring good news are a welcome sound (Rom 10:15; cf. Is 52:7).
Dear young people of Myanmar, hearing your young voices and listening to you sing today, I want to apply those words to you. Yes, you are a welcome sound; you are a beautiful and encouraging sight, for you bring us good news, the good news of your youth, your faith and your enthusiasm. Indeed, you are good news, because you are concrete signs of the Church’s faith in Jesus Christ, who brings us a joy and a hope that will never die.
Some people ask how it is possible to speak of good news when so many people around us are suffering? Where is the good news when so much injustice, poverty and misery cast a shadow over us and our world? But I want a very clear message to go out from this place. I want people to know that you, the young men and women of Myanmar, are not afraid to believe in the good news of God’s mercy, because it has a name and a face: Jesus Christ. As messengers of this good news, you are ready to bring a word of hope to the Church, to your own country, and to the wider world. You are ready to bring good news for your suffering brothers and sisters who need your prayers and your solidarity, but also your enthusiasm for human rights, for justice and for the growth of that love and peace which Jesus brings.
But I also have a challenge to set before you. Did you listen carefully to the first reading? There Saint Paul repeats three times the word unless. It is a little word, but it asks us to think about our place in God’s plan. In effect, Paul asks three questions, and I want to put them to each of you personally. First, how are people to believe in the Lord unless they have heard about him? Second, how are people to hear about the Lord unless they have a messenger, someone to bring the good news? And third, how can they have a messenger unless one is sent? (Rom 10:14-15).
I would like all of you to think deeply about these questions. But don’t be worried! As a loving father (or better, a grandfather!), I don’t want you to wrestle with these questions alone. Let me offer a few thoughts that can guide you on your journey of faith, and help you to discern what it is that the Lord is asking of you.
Saint Paul’s first question is: How are people to believe in the Lord unless they have heard about him? Our world is full of many sounds, so many distractions, that can drown out God’s voice. If others are to hear and believe in him, they need to find him in people who are authentic. People who know how to listen! That is surely what you want to be! But only the Lord can help you to be genuine, so talk to him in prayer. Learn to hear his voice, quietly speaking in the depths of your heart.
But talk also to the saints, our friends in heaven who can inspire us. Like Saint Andrew, whose feast we celebrate today. Andrew was a humble fisherman who became a great martyr, a witness to the love of Jesus. But before he became a martyr, he made his share of mistakes, and he needed to be patient, and to learn gradually how to be a true disciple of Christ. So do not be afraid to learn from your own mistakes! Let the saints lead you to Jesus and teach you to put your lives in his hands. You know that Jesus is full of mercy. So share with him all that you hold in your hearts: your fears and your worries, as well as your dreams and your hopes. Cultivate your interior life, as you would tend a garden or a field. This takes time; it takes patience. But like a farmer who waits for the crops to grow, if you wait the Lord will make you bear much fruit, a fruit you can then share with others.
Paul’s second question is: How are they to hear about Jesus without a messenger? Here is a great task entrusted in a special way to young people: to be missionary disciples, messengers of the good news of Jesus, above all to your contemporaries and friends. Do not be afraid to make a ruckus, to ask questions that make people think! And don’t worry if sometimes you feel that you are few and far between. The Gospel always grows from small beginnings. So make yourselves heard. I want you to shout! But not with your voices. No! I want you to shout with your lives, with your hearts, and in this way to be signs of hope to those who need encouragement, a helping hand to the sick, a welcome smile to the stranger, a kindly support to the lonely.
Paul’s last question is: How can people have a messenger unless one is sent? At the end of this Mass we will all be sent forth, to take with us the gifts we have received and to share them with others. This can be a little daunting, since we don’t always know where Jesus may be sending us. But he never sends us out without also walking at our side, and always just a little in front, leading us into new and wonderful parts of his kingdom.
How does our Lord send Saint Andrew and his brother Simon Peter in today’s Gospel? Follow me!, he tells them (Mt 4:19). That is what it means to be sent: to follow Christ, and not to charge ahead on our own! The Lord will invite some of you to follow him as priests, and in this way to become fishers of men. Others he will call to become religious or consecrated men and women. And yet others he will call to the married life, to be loving fathers and mothers. Whatever your vocation, I urge you: be brave, be generous and, above all, be joyful!
Here in this beautiful cathedral dedicated to Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception, I encourage you to look to Mary. When she said yes to the message of the angel, she was young, like yourselves. Yet she had the courage to trust in the good news she had heard, and to express it in a life of faithful dedication to her vocation, total self-giving, and complete trust in God’s loving care. Like Mary, may all of you be gentle but courageous in bringing Jesus and his love to others.
Dear young people, with great affection I commend all of you, and your families, to her maternal intercession. And I ask you, please, to remember to pray for me.
God bless Myanmar!
Myanmar pyi ko Payarthakin Kaung gi pei pa sei.
Words of Gratitude offered by Cardinal Charles Bo, SDB
Archbishop of Yangon
The sacred pilgrimage of Love and Peace comes to an end today. It does not end. Our dear Holy Father has handed over the work of love and peace to the young people. It has been a very tough three days in Myanmar. But the sight of youth energizes our Holy Father in every part of the world. He feels one with the youth of the world. His joy doubles in the company of youth. He trusts the youth. Saint John Bosco trusted the youth.
Holy Father today trust that the challenges faced by the country and the church can be faced with confidence by the youth. Today the colourful community of youth is a great hope not only for the church but for this country. Let all of you become a peace brigade, a peace army. This mass is the culmination of a great journey by our Holy Father. The Church's role is to generate hope. Our Holy Father is the apostle of hope.
For the last three days Myanmar had the grace of being soaked in Christian Hope. His presence was the healing touch to this nation. As he ends his apostolic visit, on behalf of the whole church of Myanmar, I wish to thank the Lord for this miracle of Our Holy Father amidst us.
When you were elected Holy Father, you said the Fathers went to the remote corner to select the next Pope. As a Pope you have chosen to bless the remotest Catholic communities. We are deeply moved by your paternal love for this church. This is a blessed moment for us. We assure our prayers as you start another three days of hard work. May this nation's history be blessed from today because you have blessed this soil with your visit!
Sculpture of Saint Francis
Gift offered to the Archbishopric of Yangon
This representation of Saint Francis in the act of reaching up to heaven while proclaiming the so-called Sermon to the Birds was produced in 2013 using the bronze fusion technique. Observing this work, so strongly permeated by a positive vision of nature as divine creation, it is easy to intuit the artist’s intentions: to exalt not only the friar of Assisi who wished to marry poverty so as to draw as close as possible to God, but also and above all that profound sense of brotherhood between man and all creation, which happens also to be so dear to the Holy Father Francis.
After the final blessing, Pope Francis travelled by car to the Yangon International Airport for the official departure ceremony before leaving Myanmar.
At 12:45pm local (1:15am EST), the Holy Father, Pope Francis arrived at the Yangon International Airport where he bid farewell to Myanmar. Upon his arrival, the Pope was greeted by the Minister Delegate of the President. Then, he departed aboard a BIMAN (Bangladesh Airlines) B737-800 bound for Bangladesh.
Immediately after leaving Yangon, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent the following message to the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar:
His Excellency, Htin Kyaw
President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Naypyidaw
As I depart from Myanmar to continue my Apostolic Journey to Bangladesh, I renew my deep appreciation to Your Excellency, the government and the beloved people of Myanmar for your warm welcome and generous hospitality. Invoking abundant divine blessings upon all of you, I offer the assurance of my fervent prayers for harmony and peace in the nation.
At 5:15pm local time (5:45am EST today), the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with Bishops from Myanmar at the Archbishop's residence in Yangon.
Upon his arrival, His Holiness was greeted by the President of the Episcopal Conference, His Excellency, Felix Lian Khen Thang, Bishop of Kalay, who accompanied him to the salon where 22 Bishops from various parts of Myanmar were assembled and waiting.
The President of the Episcopal Conference of Myanmar offered a few words of greeting before the Holy Father shared his speech.
Greetings offered by His Excellency, Felix Lian Khen Thang
Bishop of Kalay and President of CBCM
Holy Father, with great joy, we do welcome you heartily to our country, by your coming you give us courage, joy and hope in trying to live and witness our faith, as we take part in peace and nation building process. Saint Augustine says, Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia - wherever Peter is (the papacy) there is the Church. With deep appreciation we thank you, Your Holiness for your presence here, in our midst, and for your love and concern for all of us.
Like the dry parched land that is waiting for the first rain, we are also eagerly waiting for your visit which will be like the morning dew, a great blessing for our people and our country. You are our sweet Christ on earth, as Saint Catherine of Siena beautifully says. Holy Father, your timely visit fills our hearts with love and tranquility as we continue our journey of faith and trying to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world in our Mother land.
We wish you good health and peace of mind during your sojourn among us. We do promise our prayers that the Lord will protect and guide you wherever you go (cf Joshua 1:9). After you leave from here (our country), we will repeat the words of Prophet Isaiah, “how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news and proclaim peace ... and all the end of the earth will see the salvation of Our God (cf Is 52:7-10; Rom 10:15). Asking your fatherly blessing on us and with our filial love and obedience, we remain your faithful collaborators in the mission of Peace and Love.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to Bishops of Myanmar
Your Eminence,
My brother Bishops,
For all of us, this has been a busy day, but also a day of great joy! This morning we celebrated the Eucharist together with the faithful from throughout Myanmar, while this afternoon we met with leaders of the majority Buddhist community. I would like our encounter this evening to be a moment of quiet gratitude for these blessings and for peaceful reflection on the joys and challenges of your ministry as shepherds of Christ’s flock in this country. I thank Bishop Felix (Lian Khen Thang) for his words of greeting in your name and I embrace all of you with great affection in the Lord. I would like to group my own thoughts around three words: healing, accompaniment and prophecy.
First, healing. The Gospel we preach is above all a message of healing, reconciliation and peace. Through the blood of Christ’s cross, God has reconciled the world to himself, and has sent us to be messengers of that healing grace. Here in Myanmar, that message has a particular resonance, as this country works to overcome deeply-rooted divisions and to build national unity. For you, whose flocks bear the scars of this conflict and have borne valiant witness to their faith and their ancient traditions, the preaching of the Gospel must not only be a source of consolation and strength, but also a summons to foster unity, charity and healing in the life of this nation. For the unity we share and celebrate is born of diversity. It values people’s differences as a source of mutual enrichment and growth. It invites people to come together in a culture of encounter and solidarity.
In your episcopal ministry, may you constantly experience the Lord’s guidance and help in your efforts to foster healing and communion at every level of the Church’s life, so that by their example of forgiveness and reconciling love, God’s holy people can be salt and light for hearts longing for that peace the world cannot give. The Catholic community in Myanmar can be proud of its prophetic witness to love of God and neighbour, as expressed in its outreach to the poor, the disenfranchised, and above all in these days, to the many displaced persons who lie wounded, as it were, by the roadside. I ask you to offer my thanks to all who, like the Good Samaritan, work so generously to bring the balm of healing to these, their neighbours in need, without regard for religion or ethnicity.
Your ministry of healing finds particular expression in your commitment to ecumenical dialogue and inter-religious cooperation. I pray that your continuing efforts to build bridges of dialogue and to join with the followers of other religions in weaving peaceful relations will bear rich fruit for reconciliation in the life of the nation. The interfaith peace conference held in Yangon last spring was a powerful testimony before the world of the determination of the religions to live in peace and to reject every act of violence and hatred perpetrated in the name of religion.
My second word to you this evening is accompaniment. A good shepherd is constantly present to his flock, guiding them as he walks at their side. As I like to say, the shepherd should bear the smell of the sheep. In our time, we are called to be a Church which goes forth to bring the light of Christ to every periphery (cf Evangelii Gaudium, 20). As bishops, your lives and ministry are called to model this spirit of missionary outreach, above all through your regular pastoral visitation of the parishes and communities that make up your local Churches. This is a privileged means for you, as loving fathers, to accompany your priests in their daily efforts to build up the flock in holiness, fidelity and a spirit of service.
By God’s grace, the Church in Myanmar has inherited a solid faith and a fervent missionary spirit from the labours of those who brought the Gospel to this land. On this firm foundation, and in a spirit of communion with your priests and religious, continue to imbue the laity with a spirit of true missionary discipleship and seek a wise inculturation of the Gospel message in the daily life and traditions of your local communities. The contribution of catechists is essential in this regard; their formation and enrichment must remain among your chief priorities.
Above all, I would ask you to make a special effort to accompany the young. Be concerned for their formation in the sound moral principles that will guide them in confronting the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The next Synod of Bishops will not only address these issues but also directly engage young people, listening to their stories and enlisting them in our common discernment on how best to proclaim the Gospel in the years to come. One of the great blessings of the Church in Myanmar is its young people and, in particular, the number of seminarians and young religious. In the spirit of the Synod, please engage them and support them in their journey of faith, for by their idealism and enthusiasm they are called to be joyful and convincing evangelizers of their contemporaries.
My third word to you is prophecy. The Church in Myanmar witnesses daily to the Gospel through its works of education and charity, its defence of human rights, its support for democratic rule. May you enable the Catholic community to continue to play a constructive part in the life of society by making your voices heard on issues of national interest, particularly by insisting on respect for the dignity and rights of all, especially the poor and the most vulnerable. I am confident that the five-year pastoral strategy that the Church has developed within the larger context of nation building will bear rich fruit for the future not only of your local communities but also of the country as a whole. Here I think in a special way of the need to protect the environment and to ensure a just use of the nation’s rich natural resources for the benefit of future generations. The protection of God’s gift of creation cannot be separated from a sound human and social ecology. Indeed, genuine care for our relationship with nature is inseparable from fraternity, justice and keeping faith with others (Laudato Si’, 70).
Dear brother bishops, I thank God for this moment of communion and I pray that our presence together will strengthen us in our commitment to be faithful shepherds and servants of the flock that Christ has entrusted to our care. I know that your ministry is demanding and that, together with your priests, you often labour under the heat and the burden of the day (cf Mt 20:12). I urge you to maintain a balance between your spiritual and physical health, and to show paternal concern for the health of your priests. Above all, I encourage you to grow daily in prayer and in the experience of God’s reconciling love, for that is the basis of your priestly identity, the guarantee of the soundness of your preaching, and the source of the pastoral charity by which you guide God’s people on the path of holiness and truth. With great affection I invoke the Lord’s grace upon you, the clergy and religious, and all the lay faithful of your local Churches. And I ask you, please, not to forget to pray for me.
And now, I invite you to pray together with me: you in Burmese and me in Spanish.
Ave Maria ...
I bless you in the name of the All-powerful Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
At the conclusion of their meeting, after individually meeting each of the Bishops and having taken a group photograph, the Holy Father left the Bishops and blessed the cornerstones of 16 new churches, the Major Seminary and the Apostolic Nunciature.
Finally, after having taken a photograph with 300 seminarians,
the Pope returned on foot to the Archbishop's residence where, in the Chapel on the ground floor, he met privately with 30 members of the Company of Jesus (Jesuits) who are missionaries in Myanmar.
This afternoon, the Holy Father, Pope Francis left the Archbishop's residence in Yangoon and travelled by car to the Kaba Aye Centre, one of the most venerated Buddhist temples in South-Eastern Asia.
Upon his arrival, the Pope was welcomed by the Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture, Mister Thura U Aung Ko. Then, at 4:15pm local time (4:45am EST), His Holiness met with the Sangha: the Supreme Council of Buddhist Monks.
Entering into the Complex's Great Hall, Pope Francis greeted the President of the Sangha State Committee, the Venerable Doctor Bhaddanta Kumarabhivamsa. The President of the Sangha then offered some words of greeting before the Holy Father shared his own greetings.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
offered to members of the Sangha
It is a great joy for me to be with you. I thank the Most Venerable Bhaddanta Dr Kumarabhivamsa, Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, for his words of welcome and for his efforts in organizing my visit here today. In greeting all of you, I express my particular appreciation for the presence of His Excellency Thura Aung Ko, Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture.
Our meeting is an important occasion to renew and strengthen the bonds of friendship and respect between Buddhists and Catholics. It is also an opportunity for us to affirm a commitment to peace, respect for human dignity and justice for every man and woman. Not only in Myanmar, but also throughout the world, people need this common witness by religious leaders. For when we speak with one voice in affirming the timeless values of justice, peace and the fundamental dignity of each human person, we offer a word of hope. We help Buddhists, Catholics and all people to strive for greater harmony in their communities.
In every age, humanity experiences injustices, moments of conflict and inequality among peoples. In our own day these difficulties seem to be especially pronounced. Even though society has made great progress technologically, and people throughout the world are increasingly aware of their common humanity and destiny, the wounds of conflict, poverty and oppression persist, and create new divisions. In the face of these challenges, we must never grow resigned. For on the basis of our respective spiritual traditions, we know that there is a way forward, a way that leads to healing, mutual understanding and respect. A way based on compassion and loving kindness.
I express my esteem for the all those in Myanmar who live in accord with the religious traditions of Buddhism. Through the teachings of the Buddha, and the dedicated witness of so many monks and nuns, the people of this land have been formed in the values of patience, tolerance and respect for life, as well as a spirituality attentive to, and deeply respectful of, our natural environment. As we know, these values are essential to the integral development of society, starting with its smallest but most essential unit, the family, and extending through the network of relationships that bring us together – relationships rooted in culture, ethnicity and nationality, but ultimately in our common humanity. In a true culture of encounter, these values can strengthen our communities and help to bring much needed light to wider society.
The great challenge of our day is to help people be open to the transcendent. To be able to look deep within and to know themselves in such a way as to see their interconnectedness with all people. To realize that we cannot be isolated from one another. If we are to be united, as is our purpose, we need to surmount all forms of misunderstanding, intolerance, prejudice and hatred. How can we do this? The words of the Buddha offer each of us a guide: Overcome the angry by non-anger; overcome the wicked by goodness; overcome the miser by generosity; overcome the liar by truth (Dhammapada, XVII, 223). Similar sentiments are voiced in a prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, let me bring pardon … Where there is darkness, let me bring light, and where there is sadness, joy.
May that wisdom continue to inspire every effort to foster patience and understanding, and to heal the wounds of conflict that through the years have divided people of different cultures, ethnicities and religious convictions. Such efforts are never solely the purview of religious leaders, nor are they the competence of the state alone. Rather, it is the whole of society, all those present within the community, who must share in the work of overcoming conflict and injustice. Yet it is the particular responsibility of civil and religious leaders to ensure that every voice be heard, so that the challenges and needs of this moment may be clearly understood and confronted in a spirit of fairness and mutual solidarity. I commend the ongoing work of the Panglong Peace Conference in this regard, and I pray that those guiding this effort may continue to promote greater participation by all who live in Myanmar. This will surely assist the work of advancing peace, security and a prosperity inclusive of everyone.
Indeed, if these efforts are to bear lasting fruit, greater cooperation between religious leaders will be required. In this, I want you to know that the Catholic Church is a willing partner. Opportunities for religious leaders to encounter one another and to dialogue are proving to be a notable element in the promotion of justice and peace in Myanmar. I am aware that in April of this year the Catholic Bishops’ Conference hosted a two-day peace meeting, at which leaders of the different religious communities took part, together with ambassadors and representatives of non-governmental agencies. Such gatherings are essential if we are to deepen our understanding of one another and affirm our interconnectedness and common destiny. Authentic justice and lasting peace can only be achieved when they are guaranteed for all.
Dear friends, may Buddhists and Catholics walk together along this path of healing, and work side by side for the good of everyone who lives in this land. In the Christian Scriptures, the Apostle Paul challenges his hearers to rejoice with those who rejoice, while weeping with those who weep (cf Rom 12:15), humbly bearing one another’s burdens (cf Gal 6:2). On behalf of my Catholic brothers and sisters, I express our readiness to continue walking with you and sowing seeds of peace and healing, compassion and hope in this land.
Once more, I thank you for inviting me to be with you today. Upon all of you I invoke the divine blessings of joy and peace.
At the conclusion of the visit, there was an exchange of gifts and an official photograph was taken. The Holy Father then bid farewell to the President of the Sangha and returned by car to the Archbishop's residence where he met with the Bishops of the country. Along the way, before arriving at the Archbishop's residence, the Pope climbed aboard the popemobile and visited Saint Mary's Cathedral, where he will celebrate Mass tomorrow with young people.
Produced in a very lightweight magnesium alloy, this evocative Dove of Peace, inspired by certain works of the futurist artistic movement, owes its particular aerodynamic form to the fact that the metal alloy of which it is composed is used mostly in the aeronautics industry. The decision to use magnesium alloy was not made by chance, as in this way the artist wished to emphasize the loftiness of the values that lead to peace. Considered in extra-biblical cultures as the special symbol of the divinity of love, the dove is often mentioned in the Holy Bible, where it assumes from time to time a value linked to beauty, tenderness or conjugal fidelity, as well as being a symbol of purity, freedom and the search for God, and a messenger of peace (Genesis 8: 11).
The dove therefore expresses that merciful love of God for humanity, which is why this symbol is particularly dear to His Holiness Pope Francis, who from the beginning of his papacy has worked to restore peaceful relations between all nations. Indeed, the two ascending ribbons are none other than an allusion to the retying of peaceful relations.
This morning, the Holy Father, Pope Francis left the Archbishop's residence in Yangon (Myanmar) and travelled by car to the Kyaikkasan Ground.
Upon his arrival, His Holiness travelled among the faithful aboard the popemobile and then, at 8:30am local time (9:00pm last evening EST), the Pope presided at the celebration of the Mass.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the Mass celebrated at the Kyaikkasan Ground
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
(greetings in Burmese language)
Before coming to this country, I very much looked forward to this moment. Many of you have come from far and remote mountainous areas, some even on foot. I have come as a fellow pilgrim to listen and to learn from you, as well as to offer you some words of hope and consolation.
Today’s first reading, from the Book of Daniel, helps us to see how limited is the wisdom of King Belshazzar and his seers. They knew how to praise gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone (Dn 5:4), but they did not have the wisdom to praise God in whose hand is our life and breath. Daniel, on the other hand, had the wisdom of the Lord and was able to interpret his great mysteries.
The ultimate interpreter of God’s mysteries is Jesus. He is the wisdom of God in person (cf 1 Cor 1:24). Jesus did not teach us his wisdom by long speeches or by grand demonstrations of political or earthly power but by giving his life on the cross. Sometimes we can fall into the trap of believing in our own wisdom, but the truth is we can easily lose our sense of direction. At those times we need to remember that we have a sure compass before us, in the crucified Lord. In the cross, we find the wisdom that can guide our life with the light that comes from God.
From the cross also comes healing. There, Jesus offered his wounds to the Father for us, the wounds by which we are healed (cf 1 Pet 2:24). May we always have the wisdom to find in the wounds of Christ the source of all healing! I know that many in Myanmar bear the wounds of violence, wounds both visible and invisible. The temptation is to respond to these injuries with a worldly wisdom that, like that of the king in the first reading, is deeply flawed. We think that healing can come from anger and revenge. Yet the way of revenge is not the way of Jesus.
Jesus’ way is radically different. When hatred and rejection led him to his passion and death, he responded with forgiveness and compassion. In today’s Gospel, the Lord tells us that, like him, we too may encounter rejection and obstacles, yet he will give us a wisdom that cannot be resisted (cf Lk 21:15). He is speaking of the Holy Spirit, through whom the love of God has been poured into our hearts (cf Rom 5:5). By the gift of his Spirit, Jesus enables us each to be signs of his wisdom, which triumphs over the wisdom of this world, and his mercy, which soothes even the most painful of injuries.
On the eve of his passion, Jesus gave himself to his apostles under the signs of bread and wine. In the gift of the Eucharist, we not only recognize, with the eyes of faith, the gift of his body and blood; we also learn how to rest in his wounds, and there to be cleansed of all our sins and foolish ways. By taking refuge in Christ’s wounds, dear brothers and sisters, may you know the healing balm of the Father’s mercy and find the strength to bring it to others, to anoint every hurt and every painful memory. In this way, you will be faithful witnesses of the reconciliation and peace that God wants to reign in every human heart and in every community.
I know that the Church in Myanmar is already doing much to bring the healing balm of God’s mercy to others, especially those most in need. There are clear signs that even with very limited means, many communities are proclaiming the Gospel to other tribal minorities, never forcing or coercing but always inviting and welcoming. Amid much poverty and difficulty, many of you offer practical assistance and solidarity to the poor and suffering. Through the daily ministrations of its bishops, priests, religious and catechists, and particularly through the praiseworthy work of Catholic Karuna Myanmar and the generous assistance provided by the Pontifical Mission Societies, the Church in this country is helping great numbers of men, women and children, regardless of religion or ethnic background. I can see that the Church here is alive, that Christ is alive and here with you and with your brothers and sisters of other Christian communities. I encourage you to keep sharing with others the priceless wisdom that you have received, the love of God welling up in the heart of Jesus.
Jesus wants to give this wisdom in abundance. He will surely crown your efforts to sow seeds of healing and reconciliation in your families, communities and the wider society of this nation. Does he not tell us that his wisdom is irresistible (cf Lk 21:15)? His message of forgiveness and mercy uses a logic that not all will want to understand, and which will encounter obstacles. Yet his love, revealed on the cross is ultimately unstoppable. It is like a spiritual GPS that unfailingly guides us towards the inner life of God and the heart of our neighbour.
Our Blessed Mother Mary followed her Son even to the dark mountain of Calvary and she accompanies us at every step of our earthly journey. May she obtain for us the grace always be to messengers of true wisdom, heartfelt mercy to those in need, and the joy that comes from resting in the wounds of Jesus, who loved us to the end.
May God bless all of you! May God bless the Church in Myanmar! May he bless this land with his peace! God bless Myanmar!
(Greetings in Burmese language)
At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Celebration, the Archbishop of Yangon, His Eminence, Cardinal Charles Bo, SDB greeted the Holy Father.
Greetings of His Eminence, Cardinal Charles Bo, SDB
offered to the Holy Father
This is a Mount Tabor Experience. The simple Catholics have the stirring experience. We are today transported to a mountain of bliss. Life will be never be the same for Catholics in Myanmar. Just a year ago, the thought that this little flock would be breaking bread with our Holy Father, Pope Francis would have been just a dream. We are a small flock. We are like Zaccaheus. Amidst nations we could not see our shepherd. Like Zaccaheus, we were called, come down, I want to come to your house. That is our Holy Father.
Holy Father Francis: A good Shepherd goes after the small and those on the margin. You have broken the word and broken the bread. Like the moving words of our Mother, we re-echo again and again, He has raised the lowly! Our soul glorifies. Like the disciples at Mount Tabor we will go back. We go back with extraordinary spiritual energy, proud to be Catholics, challenged to live the Gospel. This day, will remain in every human heart that is here. Our dearest Holy Father! Every Catholic here with a grateful heart salutes your generosity. A miracle has been enacted today. We all go back as God's Miracle. Thank you and this little flock prays for you. After the final blessing, Pope Francis returned by car to the Archbishop's residence where he had lunch with other members of the Papal party.
At 5:00pm local time (5:30am EST) this afternoon, inside the Myanmar International Convention Centre in Nay Pyi Taw, a meeting took place between Pope Francis and various Authorities as well as members of the Civic Society and members of the Diplomatic Corps
Upon his arrival, the Holy Father, Pope Francis was welcomed by the State Councillor and the Minister of External Affairs, Ms. Ang San Suu Kyi and with a few children dressed in traditional outfits, members of various ethnic backgrounds.
Greetings offered to the Holy Father, Pope Francis
by the Minister of External Affairs
Holy Father Pope Francis,
Distinguished Guests,
It is a great joy and a great honour for me to welcome you to this gathering that reaffirms our faith in the power and possibility of peace and loving kindness. Let me begin by thanking His Holiness for being with us today. Grazie per essere arrivato qui da noi - thank you for coming to spend time with us.
Your Holiness, you bring us strength and hope in your understanding of our need, our longing, for peace, national reconciliation and social harmony. Our national anthem, adopted at the time of our independence, begins with the words: Never swerving from just freedom, reflecting the strongly held conviction of the founding fathers of our nation that true freedom cannot survive without justice. These words resonate with us today, just as they did with those who fought for independence that our people might be able to realize their full potential. It is incumbent on us to continue the task of building a nation founded on laws and institutions that will guarantee each and every one in our land justice, freedom and security. Thus, the words of Your Holiness that the prophets of old saw justice as the basis of all true and lasting peace resonates with us, and serves as a reminder that in our quest for peace we must be guided by the wisdom and aspirations of our fathers.
Your Holiness, the challenges that Myanmar faces are many, and each challenge calls for strength, patience and courage. Our nation is a rich tapestry of different peoples, languages and religions, woven on a backdrop of vast natural potential. It is the aim of our Government to bring out the beauty of our diversity and to make it our strength, by protecting rights, fostering tolerance, ensuring security for all. Our most cherished endeavour is to carry forward the peace process based on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement that was initiated by the previous Government. The road to peace is not always smooth but it is the only way that will lead our people to their dream of a just and prosperous land that will be their refuge, their pride, their joy. The quest for peace has to be reinforced by the attainment of sustainable development, that the future of coming generations might be assured.
Of the many challenges that our government has been facing, the situation in the Rakhine has most strongly captured the attention of the world. As we address long standing issues, social, economic and political, that have eroded trust and understanding, harmony and cooperation, between different communities in Rakhine, the support of our people and of good friends who only wish to see us succeed in our endeavours, has been invaluable. Your Holiness, the gifts of compassion and encouragement that you bring to us will be treasured and we take to heart your words in the message of the celebration of the fiftieth World Day of Peace on 1st January 2017:
Jesus himself offers a 'manual' for this strategy of peacemaking in the Sermon on the Mount. The eight Beatitudes (cf Mt 5:3-10) provide a portrait of the person we could describe as blessed, good and authentic. Blessed are the meek, Jesus tells us, the merciful and the peacemakers, those who are pure in heart, and those who hunger and thirst for justice. This is also a programme and a challenge for political and religious leaders, the heads of international institutions, and business and media executives: to apply the Beatitudes in the exercise of their respective responsibilities. It is a challenge to build up society, communities and businesses by acting as peacemakers. It is to show mercy by refusing to discard people, harm the environment, or seek to win at any cost.
Your Holiness, we are proud and happy that you have come to our country a mere six months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Myanmar. This is not only the opening of a new era of close relations, it also constitutes a revival of old ties that I, and others of my generation, remember with affection and appreciation. I began my education at the Saint Francis Convent in Rangoon which makes me fancy that I am entitled to special blessings from your Holiness. But all the blessings you confer will be shared by all of us that we may be able to spread goodwill and joy throughout our land.
Your Holiness, each age in the life of a nation brings its own responsibilities just as it has to bear the legacies of the past. We today who have been given the opportunity to effect changes that could open new vistas of progress for our nation, will strive to discharge our duties with probity and humility. We wish to leave to the future a land that has been nurtured with care and respect, a healthy land, a beautiful land. We wish to leave to the future a people united and at peace, secure in their capacity to grow and prosper in a changing world; a compassionate and generous people, always ready to hold out a helping hand to those in need; a people strong in skills and whole in spirit.
Your Holiness, the children of your Church in this country are also the children of Myanmar, loved and cherished. We thank them, as we thank you, for praying for our nation and all the peoples of the world. The road ahead is long but we will walk it with confidence, trusting in the power of peace, love and joy.
Your Holiness,
Continuiamo a camminare insieme con fiducia - Let us continue to walk together in trust. I thank you all.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the meeting with Authorities, Civil Society
and members of the Diplomatic Corps
Madam State Counsellor,
Honourable Government and other Authorities,
Your Eminence, My Brother Bishops,
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am grateful for the kind invitation to visit Myanmar and I thank you, Madam State Counsellor, for your kind words. I am very grateful to all who have worked so hard to make this visit possible. I have come, above all, to pray with the nation’s small but fervent Catholic community, to confirm them in their faith, and to encourage them in their efforts to contribute to the good of the nation. I am most grateful that my visit comes soon after the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Myanmar and the Holy See. I would like to see this decision as a sign of the nation’s commitment to pursuing dialogue and constructive cooperation within the greater international community, even as it strives to renew the fabric of civil society.
I would also like my visit to embrace the entire population of Myanmar and to offer a word of encouragement to all those who are working to build a just, reconciled and inclusive social order. Myanmar has been blessed with great natural beauty and resources, yet its greatest treasure is its people, who have suffered greatly, and continue to suffer, from civil conflict and hostilities that have lasted all too long and created deep divisions. As the nation now works to restore peace, the healing of those wounds must be a paramount political and spiritual priority. I can only express appreciation for the efforts of the Government to take up this challenge, especially through the Panglong Peace Conference, which brings together representatives of the various groups in an attempt to end violence, to build trust and to ensure respect for the rights of all who call this land their home.
Indeed, the arduous process of peacebuilding and national reconciliation can only advance through a commitment to justice and respect for human rights. The wisdom of the ancients defined justice precisely as a steadfast will to give each person his due, while the prophets of old saw justice as the basis of all true and lasting peace. These insights, confirmed by the tragic experience of two world wars, led to the establishment of the United Nations and the universal declaration of human rights as the basis for the international community’s efforts to promote justice, peace and human development worldwide, and to resolve conflicts through dialogue, not the use of force. In this sense, the presence of the diplomatic corps in our midst testifies not only to Myanmar’s place in the concert of nations, but also to the country’s commitment to uphold and pursue those foundational principles. The future of Myanmar must be peace, a peace based on respect for the dignity and rights of each member of society, respect for each ethnic group and its identity, respect for the rule of law, and respect for a democratic order that enables each individual and every group – none excluded – to offer its legitimate contribution to the common good.
In the great work of national reconciliation and integration, Myanmar’s religious communities have a privileged role to play. Religious differences need not be a source of division and distrust, but rather a force for unity, forgiveness, tolerance and wise nation building. The religions can play a significant role in repairing the emotional, spiritual and psychological wounds of those who have suffered in the years of conflict. Drawing on deeply-held values, they can help to uproot the causes of conflict, build bridges of dialogue, seek justice and be a prophetic voice for all who suffer. It is a great sign of hope that leaders of the various religious traditions in this country are making efforts to work together, in a spirit of harmony and mutual respect, for peace, for helping the poor and for educating in authentic religious and human values. In seeking to build a culture of encounter and solidarity, they contribute to the common good and to laying the indispensable moral foundations for a future of hope and prosperity for coming generations.
That future is even now in the hands of the nation’s young people. The young are a gift to be cherished and encouraged, an investment that will yield a rich return if only they are given real opportunities for employment and quality education. This is an urgent requirement of intergenerational justice. The future of Myanmar in a rapidly changing and interconnected world will depend on the training of its young, not only in technical fields, but above all in the ethical values of honesty, integrity and human solidarity that can ensure the consolidation of democracy and the growth of unity and peace at every level of society. Intergenerational justice likewise demands that future generations inherit a natural environment unspoilt by human greed and depredation. It is essential that our young not be robbed of hope and of the chance to employ their idealism and talents in shaping the future of their country and, indeed, our entire human family.
Madam State Counsellor, dear friends:
In these days, I wish to encourage my Catholic brothers and sisters to persevere in their faith and to continue to express its message of reconciliation and brotherhood through charitable and humanitarian works that benefit society as a whole. It is my hope that, in respectful cooperation with the followers of other religions, and all men and women of good will, they will help to open a new era of concord and progress for the people of this beloved nation. “Long live Myanmar!” I thank you for your attention, and with prayerful good wishes for your service to the common good, I invoke upon all of you the divine blessings of wisdom, strength and peace. Thank you.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Holy Father travelled by car to the International Airport in Nay Pyi Taw where he was welcomed by the President's Designate.
Then - aboard the MAI B737 - he departed for the return flight to Yangon. Having arrived, he returned by car to the residence of the Archbishop of Yangon.
