ASIA/MYANMAR – Cardinal Bo: “There is still hope in Myanmar, devastated by war and abandoned by the world”

Yangon – “In the collective drama marked by insecurity and uncertainty about the future, it is still possible to maintain hope in Myanmar, even amidst conflict, poverty, and the painful feeling of international abandonment. But this hope is not naive optimism: it is a Christian hope born from the Cross and the Resurrection. Hope in Myanmar today is a crucified hope, and yet it is not dead.” This is what the Archbishop of Yangon, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, stated in a message sent to Fides, in which he describes the situation in the country five years after the coup. “First of all,” he points out, “our hope is placed in God, not in circumstances. The people of Myanmar have lost many securities—peace, livelihoods, stability, and even international attention—but they have not lost the presence of God.” As the Psalms remind us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” In villages displaced by war, in camps of the internally displaced, in silent tears of mothers and the perseverance of catechists and religious, God is still walking with His people.
“Secondly,” the Cardinal explains, “the poor themselves have become signs of hope. In Myanmar, the poor continue to share what little they have; families continue to pray together; young people still volunteer, serve, and dream of a better future. The Church remains close to the suffering—through education, health care, humanitarian assistance, and quiet mediation. These are not spectacular signs, but they are Gospel signs, like the mustard seed.”
Thirdly, Cardinal Bo emphasizes that “the Church’s faithfulness is itself hope. When the Church refuses hatred, rejects violence, and continues to speak the language of reconciliation and human dignity, she becomes a sacrament of hope. Even when the world seems indifferent, the Church in Myanmar continues to believe that violence will not have the last word.”
He also points out that, although there may seem to be indifference on the part of the international community, “that does not mean abandonment by God, who often works in forgotten places. Myanmar may feel overlooked, but it is not forgotten in God’s plan. The blood of the innocent, the prayers of the suffering, and the resilience of the faithful are not wasted.”
The Archbishop of Yangon adds that “hope in Myanmar is a moral duty. To lose hope would be to surrender the future to violence and despair. Christian hope empowers us to resist injustice nonviolently, to protect life, to educate children even in exile, and to prepare the ground for reconciliation—long before peace agreements are signed.” “Myanmar hopes,” he affirms, “not because the situation is easy, but because God is faithful.” And as long as there are people who pray, forgive, serve, and refuse to hate, hope is alive in Myanmar.” In the context of widespread violence, suffering, and forced displacement, Cardinal Bo emphasizes that “communities continue to care for one another, and religious leaders, particularly Christians, Buddhists, and Muslims, continue to raise their voices in favor of peace.”
The Christian communities in Myanmar, both Catholic and Protestant, supported by ecumenical organizations, the Cardinal concludes, “are actively engaged in efforts to build peace and reconciliation at various levels.”
Their leaders continue to disseminate appeals for an end to the violence and invite the population to embrace reconciliation and forgiveness. Throughout the country, Churches organize inter-faith prayer meetings for peace, initiatives that “promote and strengthen a framework for coexistence.”

Read original article