杏MAP导航

Ten days before 杏MAP导航 Francis arrives in Myanmar on his 21st apostolic journey, the Archbishop of Yangon, Cardinal Charles Bo is meeting with him in the Vatican on Saturday to discuss details of the planned encounters with religious and political leaders.

The pope is scheduled to leave Rome on November 26th and arrive at Yangon鈥檚 international airport the following day. He will spend three days in Myanmar, travelling to the new capital, Nay Pyi Taw for talks with the president and with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

In Yangon he is due to meet with the nation鈥檚 Buddhist leaders and with the Catholic bishops, as well as celebrating two public Masses, before departing for Bangladesh on November 30th.

But during his meeting with the Holy Father in the Vatican, Cardinal Charles Bo told us he will be requesting a couple of additional encounters that he hopes can serve as 鈥渢he first step for peace鈥� in his country鈥�

The cardinal says during his encounter with the pope on November 18th, he will be asking him to meet 鈥渋nformally鈥� with all the country鈥檚 religious leaders together, including Buddhists Muslims, Hindus and Christians.

Meeting with religious leaders and military general?

Although it鈥檚 not in the protocol, he says, 鈥渁lso I鈥檓 going to ask the pope whether he could meet the senior general, privately鈥�. The aim, he says, is 鈥渘ot to promote what he has done, but to have a dialogue with him鈥� The cardinal adds: 鈥淧erhaps he could soften his heart and perhaps that could be the first step for peace鈥�.

Motto for papal journey

Myanmar鈥檚 Catholic leader recalls that the  for the papal visit is 鈥渓ove and peace鈥�, which must be promoted among all the different ethnic groups and religious communities. He says it鈥檚 vital to 鈥渟top the civil war鈥� between the military and the armed ethnic groups, including the Kachin, the Shan and others.

Catholic Church focus on nation building

The cardinal says that ahead of the papal visit, the Catholic bishops and lay representatives have had a national gathering to talk about nation building. Among the priorities for the Church, he says, are education, peace building, integral human development and the promotion of women and children.

Hopes for visit

Catholics in Myanmar make up less than one and a half percent of the population, numbering around 700.000 faithful. 鈥淎lthough we are a small minority鈥�, the cardinal says, the pope鈥檚 visit will be have a 鈥渂ig impact on us to carry on with our programme鈥�. Despite the difficulties the country is facing, he adds, 鈥渨e hope to be the real light of the world and salt of the earth鈥�.

You can hear the second part of this interview with Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon over the next week, ahead of the pope's departure for Myanmar