Asia’s cardinals in choral appeal for peace in Myanmar
In a joint message, twelve cardinals from across the great continent call for an end to the violence and express their closeness to Cardinal Bo and the Church of Myanmar: "We are one family. And we know that your people seek only harmony and a chance for progress”.
Manila (AsiaNews) - A new call for peace and an end to violence in Myanmar was launched together by 12 cardinals from different regions of Asia, through the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (Fabc), the body led by the Archbishop of Yangon, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo as president.
The initiative echoes a similar message of solidarity that had already been sent in recent days by the Archbishop of Seoul, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung. In the text - which we publish in full below - the 12 cardinals appeal to dialogue to find a way out, expressing particular closeness to Cardinal Bo: "The people of Myanmar we know are peace loving and only seeking an opportunity for progress. They have been law abiding and cooperating with all authorities. At the moment they only seek harmony and end to violence Asia is a continent of peace and of hope, of warm family bonds. We are one family. Peace is possible! "
It is with deep sadness and great distress that we have been following the events in Myanmar. There is too much anger, too much violence, too much blood shed, too much suffering and pain inflicted on a peace-loving populace which only seeks unity, harmony, and an opportunity for progress in freedom. There have been repeated appeals for calm from the highest quarters. The United Nations Security Council unanimously appealed for a de escalation of violence. Pope Francis has made repeated appeals for peace, harmony, and justice. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has called for “Dialogue, Reconciliation and Return to Normalcy.”
We, the Cardinals of Asia, join in making a fervent appeal to all concerned: the military, the politicians, the demonstrators, all religious leaders and the Church: PEACE, PEACE, PEACE. Peace is possible. Peace is necessary. Please begin a dialogue to find a solution, a way to go ahead. The image of a religious sister kneeling on the streets of Yangon and pleading for a laying down of arms is etched in the minds of the world. The people of Myanmar we know are peace loving and only seeking an opportunity for progress. They have been law abiding and cooperating with all authorities. At the moment they only seek harmony and end to violence. Asia is a continent of peace and of hope, of warm family bonds. We are one family.
All of us want to help you. But you must begin at home. Peace is possible! And so to our dear brother Cardinal Bo we say: We are with you. We share your pain and anguish. We join you as you lead your people in prayer to God for a speedy resolution of the conflict, and for light to all to see the way towards a solution. Violence is never a solution; force is never a solution. It only gives rise to more pain and suffering, more violence and destruction. We earnestly appeal to all religious leaders in Myanmar to join us in this prayer for peace, in this appeal for peace and in making efforts for peace.
We pray to Mother Mary to whom the people of Myanmar and all of us have special devotion. Mother, intercede for the people of Myanmar, for the country of Myanmar. Bring them back the peace they so much deserve and are crying out for. Guide them back to the path of freedom on which they were moving recently. God bless Myanmar. God bless Asia.
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