Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mandalay (Fides Service) - “Let us love one another” was the theme of a recent series of ecumenical meetings in Mandalay promoted jointly by Catholics and Protestants to promote dialogue and send a message of peace and reconciliation to other believers and to all the people of Myanmar.
The meetings follow numerous ecumenical initiatives in recent years since the history making inter-religious Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi convoked by John Paul II in 1986. In Mandalay Christians of different denominations meet at least once a year to relive and prolong the ‘spirit of Assisi’ a spirit of brotherhood, peace, tolerance, important in Myanmar today afflicted by political, ethnic and social tension.
Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists and Baptists discussed how to improve communication and reciprocal knowledge among the different local Christian communities and with followers of other religions as a means to foster national reconciliation and peace.
The meetings culminated with an ecumenical prayer service in Sacred Heart Cathedral Mandalay with the fervent participation of all the different Christians and also many non Christians. In Myanmar Christians are 6% of a population of about 48 million mainly Buddhist and 4% Muslim.
Prayers were also said for national reconciliation and unity just when the military government announced that work is to be resumed on Myanmar’s new Constitution. It was announced that the work of drafting the new Constitution will start on 5 December. However the international community appears to be sceptical given the present situation of a scarcity of respect for human rights in Myanmar. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 4/11/2005 righe 23 parole 265)
