ASIA/MYANMAR - The Burmese people hope for Pope Leo's support and ask for help after the earthquake

Mandalay (Agenzia Fides) - "Now we must rebuild hope in our communities, already affected by war and hardship. We renew an urgent appeal: help us rebuild our ecclesial communities in Mandalay," Father Peter Kyi Maung, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, which was hit by the devastating earthquake on March 28, told Fides. Meanwhile, in the Diocese of Mandalay, the Emergency Rescue Team has been on site assessing the severely damaged church buildings and pastoral structures. "These sacred places, where we gather for worship, prayer, and mutual support, now urgently need to be repaired and restored. We appeal to our great family of faith, asking for your generous support," the Emergency Rescue Team wrote in a statement. The need is to repair damaged church structures, restore community centers and catechism rooms, and create safe structures for liturgy and parish meetings. "In this way," explains Fr. Peter Kyi Maung, "we will be able to resume the spiritual and communal life of the people of God. We are called to help communities flourish anew in faith and resilience," he notes. "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," he says. Although they are in a time of crisis and serious difficulties, Burmese Catholics also rejoice at the election of Pope Leo XIV.
In a congratulatory message on the inauguration of the Petrine ministry, Archbishop Marco Tin Win Mandalay asks Pope Leo "to support peace for Myanmar." "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," said the archbishop. Burmese Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, who was present at the Conclave, reaffirmed everyone's hopes: He sent photos of himself accompanied by Pope Leo to the faithful and told them: "I asked him not to forget us and expressed the hope that he would visit Myanmar soon." Burmese Dominican Father Paul Aung Myint told Fides: "We are certain that Pope Leo will pay attention to the conflicts of the forgotten, the suffering of the poor, the marginalized, and the many refugees in Myanmar and other parts of the world: we know he will be a voice for the voiceless."
Joseph Kung, a Catholic from Yangon, emphasizes: "We do not yet know the new Pope Leo well, but 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. Furthermore, he is polyglot, and his knowledge of English will facilitate communication with many realities in Asia, certainly also with the bishops and faithful in Myanmar." (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 14/5/2025)

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