ASIA/MYANMAR – Burmese Catholics call for peace and observe Lent in the spirit of prayer and charity

Yangon – The civil war in Myanmar is still at a stalemate, as “neither side has been able to achieve a decisive victory, nor is a complete defeat in sight,” according to the recently published report “The State of Myanmar” 2026 by the Thai think tank “Institute for Strategy and Policy.”
“At the same time, the violence continues in many parts of the country, with serious consequences for the population. The military is attempting to conquer the Sagaing region through intensified bombing, thus bringing danger and deep suffering to the civilian population,” Joseph Kung, a Catholic from Yangon, told Fides. “A civilian government is expected after the elections in March, but not much will change, as the military will govern itself – in civilian clothes and without uniforms,” he emphasized. In this situation, Burmese Catholics began Lent with intense prayer, fasting, and acts of charity. “Pope Leo’s message impressed us most of all with its practical call to fast, not only from food, but also from slander and all evil,” Kung notes. “Bishops and priests have disseminated the Pope’s message, and the faithful are meditating its content. For all of us, it is a source of encouragement and hope. For Burmese Catholics experiencing hardship and displacement, the Pope’s words offer psychological and spiritual support. They also encourage us to show solidarity with one another and to be close to those who suffer most. The faithful of Myanmar are deeply grateful to Pope Leo and hope for a turning point of peace for the nation,” he continues.
In the spirit of peace, Burmese Catholics from all dioceses in the country participated in the 124th National Marian Pilgrimage. Thousands of pilgrims gathered at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Nyaunglebin, in the Archdiocese of Yangon, from February 6 to 15 for nine days of celebrations. The baptized entrusted themselves once again to the Virgin Mary and received a powerful invitation to become peacemakers in a nation marked by conflict and division. The celebrations concluded with a solemn Mass of Thanksgiving presided over by Cardinal Charles Maug Bo, who emphasized Myanmar’s urgent need for reconciliation. “It is very gratifying to see that, despite many difficulties and adversities, so many faithful come to the Marian Shrine of Nyaunglebin with great devotion and deep faith,” said Cardinal Bo, who also acknowledged the challenges the pilgrims faced. Cardinal Bo drew a parallel between Nyaunglebin and Lourdes, remarking, “Mary did not appear to the powerful, but to a poor, sick girl, Saint Bernadette, just as she still chooses humble places marked by suffering.” Nyaunglebin today, he said, is not a place of wealth, “but a region of displacement, broken families, and insecurity.” Mary, the Cardinal said, “brought prayer and healing. She made water flow to heal the suffering world.” True peace, he emphasized, “cannot be decreed from above. It does not begin with government. Peace begins in our hearts.” “Mary invites us to be peacemakers,” he continued, urging the faithful to choose forgiveness and understanding over hatred. During the celebrations, Monsignor Andrea Ferrante, Chargé d’Affaires of the Holy See in Myanmar, conveyed greetings from Pope Leo XIV and described the shrine as a place of encounter with God. Addressing the young people, he reminded them that Mary herself was young when she followed God’s call. “Do not be afraid to say yes to the Lord,” he said.

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