杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis met 17 leaders of Myanmar’s religious communities Tuesday morning, exhorting them that peace consists in unity in diversity, not in uniformity.  The 杏MAP导航 met leaders of Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Catholic and other Christian communities at the Archbishop’s House in Yangon, at the start of his first full day of his Nov. 27-30 apostolic visit to Myanmar.

Holy See’s spokesman, Greg Burke said that the during his 40-minute meeting with them, the 杏MAP导航 urged them to work together to rebuild the country and that if they argue, they should argue like brothers, who reconcile afterwards.  

Unity is not uniformity

After various leaders spoke, 杏MAP导航 Francis spoke off-hand in Spanish helped by an interpreter.  Alluding to the Psalms, he said, “ How beautiful it is to see brothers united!”   He explained that being united does not mean being equal.  “Unity is not uniformity, even within a religious community.  Each one has his values, his riches as also shortcomings,” the 杏MAP导航 said, adding, “we are all different.”  Each confession has its riches and traditions to give and share.  And this can happen only if all live in peace.  “Peace,” the 杏MAP导航 stressed, “consists in a chorus of differences.”  “Unity comes about in differences.”

Uniformity kills

“Peace is harmony,” the 杏MAP导航 said, noting that there is a tendency in the world towards uniformity to make everybody equal.  But he denounced this as a “cultural colonization” that “kills humanity.”   He said religious leaders should understand the richness of our differences - ethnic, religious or popular - and what results from these differences is dialogue.  “As brothers, we can learn from these differences,” the 杏MAP导航 stressed, exhorting the religious leaders to “build the country, which is so rich and diverse even geographically.” 

Nature in Myanmar is very rich in differences, the 杏MAP导航 said, urging them not be afraid of differences. “Since we have one Father and we are all brothers, let us be brothers,” the 杏MAP导航 urged.  And if they have to debate among themselves, let it be as brothers, which will soon bring about reconciliation and peace.   “Build peace without allowing yourselves be made uniform by the colonization of cultures,” the 杏MAP导航 appealed.  “One builds true divine harmony through differences.  Differences are a richness for peace,” the 杏MAP导航 added.