“The Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar promotes justice, peace, and reconciliation, and strongly requests all stakeholders to facilitate humanitarian access to the suffering and displaced people in order to provide basic humanitarian assistance. Human dignity and the right to life cannot be compromised. We ask with equal force for respect for life, for the sacredness of places of worship, hospitals, and schools. All those who do their utmost to help people must be protected and helped”. This is according to an official statement issued by the Burmese bishops at the end of their annual assembly held in Yangon from January 11 to 14.
The text, sent to Agenzia Fides – signed by the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM), Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, and by all the other prelates – expresses “deep sadness for the current situation in the country”, and concern “for the very high risk to the life and safety of innocent people and especially for the displaced, children, women, the elderly and the sick in the affected areas, regardless of their ethnic origin or religious belief”. “Thousands of people are on the move and millions are starving”, he says.
The Burmese Bishops say they are “immensely grateful to all priests, religious and catechists who accompany the faithful on their journey through the dangers of life and provide them with pastoral support and the sacraments”. for their pastoral support and with the sacraments”. “. They, therefore, encourage priests, religious and catechists “to continue their mission of love and sacrifice to those in need, regardless of their ethnic origin or religious faith”. “We are inspired by the communion of all the people of Myanmar, who have compassionately welcomed those fleeing, offering them refreshment, shelter, and food. Small and large gestures that will be the cure for this country”, reads the Communiqué.
Looking to the future, the Bishops will continue to seek the communion of the universal Church and the community of donors to support all the people of Myanmar without discrimination”, in the certainty that “everything is possible with God”. The prelates make a heartfelt appeal to all the Dioceses so that “they promote peace in our country with every possible effort, especially by intense prayer. Our pastoral accompaniment will bring comfort to those in need. Our help and support in this nation will reach everyone, without any discrimination of origin or religion”.
