by Paolo Affatato
Mindat – “In the name of God, our appeal is for reconciliation. We ask that this war, which is causing immense suffering to our people, be brought to an end. If genuine dialogue, based on equality and justice, could be established, then a ray of hope would emerge.”
More than an account of the conflict, Bishop Augustine Thang Zawm Hung, the first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Mindat, offers a heartfelt appeal for peace. Speaking to Fides News Agency from the heart of Chin State in north-western Myanmar, a region devastated by civil war, he calls on all parties to seek reconciliation.
“In the current conflict, the parties continue to stand firm in their positions, making it difficult to envision a solution,” the bishop says. “But our hope is rooted in faith: God desires peace, and his plans go beyond those of human beings. By turning to God and praying, we hope for a conversion of hearts, for ‘metanoia,’ a profound spiritual transformation. Only then can God’s love and charity enlighten people’s hearts and open the path to peace.”
The Diocese of Mindat was established by Pope Francis in January 2025, separating it from the Diocese of Hakha. As the Bishop explains, the choice arose both for pastoral reasons and the complex geographical and political situation of the region: “The diocese was created because Mindat is home to a large Catholic community,” he explains. “The territory is vast, rugged and extremely difficult to reach. After the pandemic and with the ongoing conflict, the Bishop of Hakha was no longer able to visit this part of Chin State regularly.
Furthermore, Mindat also has great historical significance: it was here, in 1919, that the first missionaries of the Paris Foreign Missions arrived and began evangelizing the region.”
Located in western Myanmar along the borders with India and Bangladesh, Chin State has a population of around half a million people. It is one of the few regions in Myanmar where Christianity is the majority religion, alongside a Buddhist minority. The Chin population is made up of numerous ethnic and linguistic groups.
“We are all Chin, but we belong to different clans and often speak different languages,” the Prelate explains. “Among the Chin communities of the dioceses of Hakha, Kalay and Mindat, interpreters are sometimes needed to understand each other. Chin communities also live in Rakhine State, the Sagaing Region, and even in Bangladesh.”
Most Chin Christians belong to Protestant Churches, particularly Baptist and Pentecostal communities. Catholics form a significant minority, concentrated mainly in the dioceses of Hakha and Mindat. The new Diocese of Mindat includes more than twenty parishes and serves approximately 15,000 Catholics, most of whom live in remote mountain villages.
Following the military coup in February 2021, Chin State became one of the first regions in Myanmar to organize armed resistance against the military junta. Today, large parts of the territory are controlled by the Chin Defence Forces , local self-defense groups allied with the National Unity Government . According to the United Nations, more than 70% of Chin State’s population has been displaced or requires humanitarian assistance, while thousands have sought refuge across the border in India’s Mizoram State.
Mindat remains one of the region’s key strategic locations.
“At the end of 2024, local defence forces had taken control of the town, forcing the army to withdraw,” Bishop Hung recalls. “But since early May, the military has launched a new offensive to retake it. Heavy fighting has resumed. The army was thoroughly prepared, and clashes are still ongoing.”
The war has also profoundly transformed the life of the Church.
“Already in July 2024 we were forced to leave the pastoral center,” he says. “Today, almost the entire Catholic community has moved to the villages. I myself now live in St. Mary’s Parish. We can no longer remain in the town.”
While main cities remain vulnerable to bombings, many villages continue to provide relatively safer shelter.
“Nearly all our parishes are located in villages, where we are still able to celebrate the Eucharist and administer the sacraments,” the bishop explains. “Many priests have remained alongside their faithful. Families with greater financial means have fled to Yangon, Mandalay or other safer dioceses, mainly to allow their children to continue their education. The poorest, meanwhile, have returned to their home villages, where relatives and friends can offer support, simply trying to survive.”
To reach these scattered communities, Bishop Hung travels long distances across the mountains.
“I ride a motorcycle to visit villages, celebrate the sacraments and remain close to the people,” he says. “The roads are extremely rough, and at times we must also be alert to air strikes while crossing what analysts call the ‘liberated areas,’ territories controlled by the Chin defence forces. But even these areas have once again become battlefields.”
For the bishop, the Church’s presence is itself a concrete form of witness: “We cannot and do not want to fight,” he says. “What we can do is remain present, visit communities, reach people living in small villages and encourage them to have faith. Our closeness is already a message of love and solidarity.”
His episcopal ministry is focused above all on accompanying displaced people spiritually.
“Whenever I meet them, I always tell them: cultivate peace, have faith, and take care for one another in these extremely difficult circumstances,” he says. “As a bishop, Jesus has entrusted me with the mission of a shepherd. ‘Feed my sheep,’ the Lord tells me. That is my responsibility: to care for the people entrusted to me.”
Peace, he insists, “cannot be built by human beings alone.”
“Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Only God can grant true peace. That is why we must pray and draw closer to Him. I often encourage every parish to organize Eucharistic Adoration, because prayer gives us the strength to endure and to persevere through this time of trial.”
The bishop also recalls his recent meeting with Pope Leo XIV during his ad limina visit. “We received great encouragement and his prayers for Myanmar. It was very important for us.” Finally, he addresses an appeal to the international community: “There are wars in many parts of the world, but the media and public opinion often focus only on the major countries. I ask you: do not forget Myanmar. And to all the faithful around the world I say: do not forget the people of Chin State. pray for us.”
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