MANDALAY (UCAN): In a congratulatory message issued following the election of Pope Leo XIV to the pontificate, Archbishop Marco Tin Win of Mandalay, Myanmar, urged the new pope “to support peace for Myanmar,” Fides reported on May 14.
“Many non-Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, and Protestants followed the pope’s election with great interest. This was a moment of witness and evangelization for us,” Archbishop Tin Win said.
The people of Myanmar have recently been left reeling from the aftereffects of the magnitude-7.7 quake which struck on March 28 that killed nearly 3,800 and left tens of thousands homeless [Sunday Examiner, April 13].
The quake was the strongest to hit Myanmar since 1912, according to the United States Geological Survey, with the ground shearing up to six metres in places, according to a NASA analysis.
The junta—which snatched power in a 2021 coup, sparking a many-sided civil war—declared a ceasefire on April 2, which expired on April 30, but was recently extended to May 31.
Many non-Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, and Protestants followed the pope’s election with great interest. This was a moment of witness and evangelization for us
Archbishop Tin Win
Father Peter Kyi Maung, the vicar general of the archdiocese, voiced the need to rebuild hope in Church communities,which have already been battered by war and hardship.
“We renew an urgent appeal, help us rebuild our ecclesial communities in Mandalay,” Father Kyi said.
Meanwhile, the Mandalay Archdiocesan Emergency Rescue Team has been assessing severely damaged church buildings and pastoral structures.
The team called for aid for repairs and restoration work. “These sacred places, where we gather for worship, prayer, and mutual support, now urgently need to be repaired and restored,” it said in a statement.
“We appeal to our great family of faith, asking for your generous support,” it added.
The archdiocese aims to repair damaged church structures, restore community centres and catechism rooms, and create safe structures for liturgy and parish meetings, Fides reported.
For so many suffering people, we are instruments of God’s mercy and compassion in this time of trial. Therefore, we ask for the support of the faithful everywhere.
Father Kyi
The priest said that after the repairs, the archdiocese will be able to “resume the spiritual and communal life of the people of God.”
He said, “We are called to help communities flourish anew in faith and resilience.”
Father Kyi said, “For so many suffering people, we are instruments of God’s mercy and compassion in this time of trial. Therefore, we ask for the support of the faithful everywhere.”
Earlier, Charles Maung Cardinal Bo, who was an elector at the conclave that elected Pope Leo, said that he had “asked [the pope] not to forget us and expressed hope that he would visit Myanmar soon.”
Dominican Father Paul Aung Myint expressed hope that the pope would pay attention to the challenges that the Church in Myanmar faces.
“We are certain that Pope Leo will pay attention to the conflicts of the forgotten, the suffering of the poor, the marginalised, and the many refugees in Myanmar and other parts of the world,” Father Myint said.
“We know he will be a voice for the voiceless,” he said.
Joseph Kung, from Yangon, said that while they are yet to know Leo better, his missionary experience would contribute to paying attention to the Catholic Church in the Global South.
“We know that he has gained important missionary experience. We therefore believe that he will be deeply concerned with all the mission countries in the Global South,” Kung said.
“Furthermore, he is a polyglot, and his knowledge of English will facilitate communication with many realities in Asia, certainly also with the bishops and faithful in Myanmar,” he added.
