ASIA/MYANMAR - Religious leaders: "Peace is possible, peace is the only way"

Saturday, 21 January 2023 religious leader peace wars

MYANMAR

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Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - Religious leaders in Myanmar issue a "passionate appeal for peace", insisting that "all of us need to undertake the pilgrimage of peace". "The last few months have seen great threats to the sacredness of human life, lives lost, lives displaced, and lives under starvation. In a great country blessed with so many resources, the destruction of lives is a heart-wrenching tragedy", reads the text sent to Fides and signed by representatives of the Catholic Church in Myanmar: Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon; Msgr. Marco Tin Win, Archbishop of Mandalay and Msgr. Basil Athai, Archbishop of Taunggy.
Expressing the concerns and feelings of the different faith communities, the message notes: "places of worship and monasteries, where communities sought peace and reconciliation are themselves increasingly under attack. International instruments like the Hague Convention call for the protection of places of worship, places of learning, and places of healing". And continues: "As a nation, we must heal. Healing passes through our deep sense of interpersonal relationship. Places of worship promote this interdependence, leading to peace. When they are mercilessly burnt, returning to normalcy becomes a great challenge".
"As leaders of various faith traditions - concludes the message – plead with all stakeholders in Myanmar: Let all guns fall silent, let us reach out to all, as brothers and sisters, and start the sacred pilgrimage of peace – united as a nation and as a people". "Peace is possible, peace is the only way", concludes the message, inviting all believers to pray for peace and reconciliation of the nation. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 21/1/2022)