Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - Church colleagues proudly welcomed Archbishop Charles Maung Bo home on Monday, a day after his appointment by Pope Francis as Myanmar's first Roman Catholic cardinal.
According to Bishop Felix Lian Khen Thang, Bishop of Kalay and President of the Episcopal Conference, Bo’s appointment "is the culmination of the activities of the mission of the Church in Myanmar". As Fides learns, the Bishop remarked: "Bo is bold enough to tell the truth, both on social and religious issues, political affairs, on matters affecting the Church".
Bo’s appointment comes at a delicate moment for the history of the country, engaged in a democratic transition, after years of dictatorship, and on the eve of new elections which should take place in the autumn of 2015. In addition, the nation is struggling with problems of religious intolerance, in particular on behalf of some Buddhist groups towards Muslims of the ethnic Rohingya.
In a note sent to Fides, Benedict Rogers, specialist of the NGO "Christian Solidarity Worldwide" describes Bo as "a man of great qualities: courage, wisdom, compassion, humility, humor, hospitality and generosity". "In particular - he says – he was one of the most outspoken religious leaders in Burma on issues of human rights, religious freedom, democracy, and injustice". In Myanmar Catholics are about 1% of a total population of 51 million inhabitants, mostly Buddhists. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 08/01/2015)
