Pope Benedict is ready to make a stop over visit to Myanmar after Yangon Archbishop Charles Maung Bo issued an invitiation to the Pope from the floor of the Bible Synod. UCA News reports that Archbishop Bo also met the pope privately on October 23.
The previous week, the Salesian prelate, general secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar, issued a surprise invitation to Pope Benedict during the archbishop's five minute intervention at the Synod on the Word of God.
Looking at the pope, he concluded with the words: "Holy Father, from the time of St Peter until today, no Holy Father has visited Myanmar. Our warmest welcome to Myanmar!"
The synod burst into spontaneous applause when he finished, participants recalled.
Nine days later, Archbishop Bo was in the pope's private library as part of the ad limina visit every bishop is expected to make once in five years to report to the pope and Vatican officials on the situation in his diocese and country.
"The Holy Father at once pointed out that I had invited him to Myanmar during my synod intervention," Archbishop Bo said. During their private conversation, he recalled, Pope Benedict made it clear "he would be ready to make a short visit to Myanmar if he chooses to visit one of the countries in Asia."
The archbishop found the pope's calmness and "clear mind" impressive amid a busy schedule with numerous visitors. The pontiff was interested in the rehabilitation work the Church was involved in after cyclone Nargis, as well as the general situation in Myanmar.
A Vatican official told UCA News, "It should be stated clearly that there is no persecution against Christianity or Catholics in Myanmar."
He also pointed out that even though the Holy See and Myanmar do not have diplomatic relations, the Bangkok based apostolic delegate to Myanmar can freely visit the country and meet bishops, who also are allowed to travel to the Vatican.
But a Church source clarified that Myanmar's Catholic Church enjoys freedom to worship but is not allowed to work freely in the fields of education and health care. "Nor can it express its position on sociopolitical questions in accord with the Church's social teaching," the source said in Rome.
According to Vatican diplomatic sources, a papal visit requires an invitation from the local bishops' conference and the national government's invitation or willingness to receive him, since he is a head of state.
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(Source: CTHN)